PAC orders prosecution of ECG staff over GHC180m unapproved spending

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed that staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) responsible for over GHC180 million in unapproved budget overruns in 2023 face prosecution.

During a PAC meeting on Tuesday, October 28, ranking member Samuel Atta-Mills revealed that, according to the Auditor General’s report, ECG exceeded expenditure on thirteen budget line items without approval from the company board.

The report showed that while the company budgeted GHC2.8 million, GHC4.2 million, GHC40 million, and GHC3.1 million for staff fuel, communication, consultancy, and stakeholders’ expenses respectively, actual spending reached GHC3.6 million, GHC7.9 million, GHC58.6 million, and GHC49 million — all without board approval.

“Staff fuel, did they drive around the world? The budget was 2.8, you spent 3.6 million. Communication expenses, ECG, their budget was 4.2, but you spent 7.9 million. Consultancy, the budget was 40 million, but you spent 58.6 million.

All these you did on your own without even board approval. Stakeholders’ expenses, your budget was 3.1 million, and you spent 49 million, and you want to increase our tariffs,” he said.

Mr. Atta-Mills further recommended that the managers involved be made to face the Attorney General for prosecution due to the financial indiscipline.

“This shows financial indiscipline. Those managers who were involved, I’m recommending that they need to face the Attorney General for prosecution,” he added.