Controversy over Auditor-General continues in Parliament

Page 13, June 9, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC), Mr Samuel Sallas-Mensah, yesterday expressed concern about the delay in the presentation of some reports of the Auditor-General covering 2006 before Parliament.
The reports include the 2006 financial reports on the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Consolidated Fund and some performance audit reports prepared by the Auditor-General.
Reacting to the Business Statement of Parliament for next week, which was presented by the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Mr Sallas-Mensah wondered why the reports had not been presented even though they were ready in the pigeon hole of Parliament.
Responding to the concerns of Mr Sallas-Mensah, Mr Aidooh explained that the Business Committee was unable to present the reports before the House because of a ruling on a letter written to the Speaker by the PAC questioning the prolong stay of the Auditor-General, Mr Edward Duah-Agyeman, in office after his mandatory retirement age in 2005.
He stated that since the Speaker upheld the concerns raised in the said letter, the Business Committee would not be able to present a report prepared and signed by the Auditor-General covering 2006 when he was supposed to be on retirement.
In addition, since the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, had filed a suit on the matter, it would not be proper for Mr Duah-Agyeman’s report to be presented before the House.
When the Member of Parliament (MP) for Lawra/Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, caught the eye of the Speaker, he argued that since the House was “the master of its own rules”, the matter could be dealt with to enable the reports to be brought before the House.
Giving his ruling on the controversy, the Second Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, ordered that the leadership of the House should meet the Speaker to resolve the matter, since arguments and counter arguments within the House was not the best way out of the problem.