For years, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has brought most scandalous corruption cases to light, questioning public officials on live television and making strong recommendations for prosecutions. Yet, nothing happens.
The same officials return to their offices, the same funds disappear, and the same cycle continues.
According to former PAC chairman and current Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, James Klutse Avedzi, the real problem is clear—the Executive branch is blocking the fight against corruption.
Mr Avedzi, who chaired PAC from 2017, has revealed the systematic failure that allows corruption to thrive.
“Ghanaians think that the committee has the power to punish people on the spot, but we do not. The committee doesn’t have that power to punish. We can only recommend.”
And recommend, they have.
“We recommended a number of people—I cannot even count them—to the Attorney General for prosecution.”
But after that, the process grinds to a halt.
The issue, according to Avedzi, is not with Parliament, but with the Executive. PAC’s work is based on the Auditor General’s reports, which document financial mismanagement and suspected corruption.
The committee investigates, interrogates officials, and submits reports to Parliament. “100% of my reports have always been adopted,” Mr Avedzi said.
