PAC chairperson moves to embed EOCO at Public Accounts hearings to stop Assemblies using office as shield

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament says it is taking steps to clamp down on what it describes as a recurring attempt by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to evade accountability by claiming they have reported financial irregularities to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

The Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare, expressed frustration during a three-day public hearing held in the Western Region, noting that several assemblies continue to cite EOCO investigations as justification for unresolved financial infractions flagged in the Auditor-General’s report—often without providing any documentary proof.

According to her, the pattern has become a “common refrain,” with officials repeatedly claiming that cases have been reported to EOCO whenever they are questioned about unretired advances, procurement breaches, or contract-related irregularities.

However, she stressed that many of these claims cannot be verified, as assemblies frequently fail to present any official correspondence confirming such reports. In some instances, she revealed, affected parties have even disputed the existence of such complaints, further deepening concerns about accountability gaps.

To address this challenge, the PAC is proposing a new verification mechanism: placing EOCO representatives directly at the hearing table to confirm or refute claims in real time. This, she explained, would eliminate ambiguity and prevent institutions from using EOCO as a “shield” to deflect scrutiny.

“Now it has become a common refrain we hear from these assemblies… they say, ‘We have written to EOCO,’ and sometimes without any evidence,” she stated. “Just as we have representatives from the District Assembly Common Fund present, we expect EOCO to also be here so we can validate what they are saying.”

She further argued that integrating EOCO into the hearings would improve transparency and ensure that findings from oversight bodies are properly cross-checked during deliberations. The Committee also suggested similar arrangements for other key institutions such as the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to enhance verification in cases involving educational infrastructure.

The development comes amid growing concern over persistent financial mismanagement within some local government structures, particularly regarding revenue collection and asset management.

Another major issue raised during the hearing was the poor management of government-owned residential properties. Officials reported that instead of collecting the mandated 10% of occupants’ income as rent, some assemblies charge flat rates as low as GH¢20 per month.

Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, criticised the practice, describing it as clear evidence of systemic inefficiency and mismanagement.

He argued that government should reconsider its role as a direct landlord, suggesting that housing assets could be better managed by specialised units or agencies capable of charging realistic market rents and maintaining the properties properly.

“Why don’t we give it to a unit somewhere that will renovate it and charge the appropriate rent?” he questioned. “The buildings are dilapidated, without maintenance, yet people are paying almost nothing.”

The PAC says it will continue tightening oversight measures as part of broader efforts to improve public financial management and ensure greater accountability across local government institutions.