PAC summons Northern Regional Births and Deaths Director over GH¢71k withdrawals

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has summoned the Northern Regional Director of the Births and Deaths Registry to explain withdrawals totalling GH¢71,300 that were allegedly made without payment vouchers and the required supporting documents.

The withdrawals, made between March 12, 2024, and October 22, 2025, came under scrutiny when agencies under the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs appeared before the Committee on Tuesday, October 6.

Among the transactions questioned were withdrawals of GH¢15,800 and GH¢18,000, with PAC members raising concerns about the repeated failure to provide the documentation required to support the use of public funds.

The Committee questioned the Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry, Samuel Adom Botchway, about the circumstances surrounding the withdrawals and the measures taken to ensure compliance with established financial procedures.

Mr Botchway initially told the Committee that the outstanding issues had been addressed through payment vouchers and memoranda submitted for approval.

However, PAC members stressed that producing the documents after the transactions did not resolve concerns about whether the required procedures had been followed before the public funds were withdrawn.

The Committee subsequently directed the Northern Regional Director of the Births and Deaths Registry to appear before it together with Mr Botchway to provide further explanations on the transactions.

PAC Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare gave the officials until Friday to appear before the Committee.

“So we will step it down for now. We sit from today to the 20th. We’ll give you up to Friday for him to come with you and discharge his mandate,” she said.

Mr Botchway subsequently apologised and agreed to bring the Regional Director before the Committee to respond to the concerns.

The summons forms part of the PAC’s examination of financial transactions involving institutions under the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, with the Committee seeking clarification on compliance with public financial management procedures.