Stop the 'I wasn't there, I came to meet this' excuses and take responsibility – PAC Chair to heads of State agencies

The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, has urged heads of state-owned institutions to take responsibility for their mandates and protect public resources rather than blame their predecessors for inherited problems.

She said public officials entrusted with leadership positions must demonstrate accountability by addressing existing challenges and taking corrective action, regardless of when the problems occurred.

Madam Osei-Asare made the remarks on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during a working visit by the PAC to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to familiarise members with the institution’s operations.

She urged public officials to treat their responsibilities seriously and ensure that the institutions under their supervision operate in the interest of the state.

“I think that is what we should all do, that once we are entrusted with something we should take it serious and protect it and guard it and pursue it so that even the person who gave it to you will sit back and feel proud that I didn't make a mistake,” she said.

Madam Osei-Asare made the call while commending the Chief Executive of the NPA, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, for taking responsibility and initiating steps to recover more than GH¢2 million reportedly misapplied by his predecessor.

She noted that Mr Tameklo had not been in office when the alleged financial irregularities occurred but had nevertheless taken steps to address the matter.

According to the PAC Chair, his response during an appearance before the Committee demonstrated the kind of accountability expected from public officials, particularly those responsible for managing state resources.

She urged other heads of public institutions to adopt a similar approach instead of distancing themselves from problems that arose before their appointments.

“But for some of them we all see it when they come, 'I wasn't there, I came to meet this' - it doesn't matter what you came to meet, what have you done about it since? That is what we should do,” she stated.

Her comments reinforce the Committee’s expectation that current managers should take practical steps to resolve inherited challenges, strengthen financial controls and ensure that public funds are properly managed.

Madam Osei-Asare explained that the working visit was intended to give committee members first-hand insight into the activities and operations of the NPA.

She said a better understanding of the Authority’s work would enable members to assess its operations more effectively and ask informed questions during subsequent parliamentary engagements.

“And so today we are here to see for ourselves first-hand what exactly goes into the activities that you do,” she said.

She added that the engagement would help the Committee improve the quality of its scrutiny by ensuring that members understood the practical responsibilities and challenges facing the institutions they examine.

“So we are happy to be here, we just want you to take us through so that when we sit back and we are also asking questions we know that really we know what we talking about,” she said.

The PAC’s engagement with the NPA comes amid broader concerns about financial management, the recovery of public funds and accountability across state institutions.

Madam Osei-Asare’s remarks highlight the responsibility of public-sector leaders to investigate irregularities, pursue the recovery of misapplied funds and strengthen internal systems rather than rely on changes in leadership as an explanation for unresolved problems.

The Committee’s working visit is also expected to improve members’ understanding of the NPA’s operations and support more informed oversight of the Authority’s activities.