The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has issued a stern warning to the University of Ghana following repeated breaches of required procurement processes in its projects. The warning came during a PAC sitting on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, where concerns were raised over the university’s continuous flouting of procurement regulations highlighted by auditors.
Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, expressed his disappointment at the university’s persistent violations despite assurances made during previous appearances before the PAC. “You have been appearing here, and this issue has been coming up. You always promise that you will not do it again, but you are still committing the same crime,” remarked Klutse Avedzi.
In response, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, acknowledged the challenges faced by the institution and outlined measures being taken to rectify the situation. Prof. Amfo attributed the breaches to structural issues within the university and inadequate procurement resources, which the university is actively addressing.
“The challenge has to do with the nature of our business, our institution, and also the complexities because we operate in four colleges and the central administration,” stated Prof. Amfo. She further elaborated on efforts to enhance procurement resources, including the appointment of procurement officers across all colleges and improvements in resource allocation for procurement functions.
The PAC also summoned representatives from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, and the University of Media, Arts and Communication to address irregularities identified in their accounts by the Auditor General.
The repeated admonition from the PAC underscores the seriousness of the procurement breaches and the need for swift corrective action by the University of Ghana. As the institution pledges to strengthen its procurement processes, stakeholders will be closely monitoring its progress to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and accountability in financial management.