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Tamale, Ghana – Member of Parliament for Builsa South Constituency, Dr Clement Apaak, has expressed disquiet about the decision for authorities of the Nandom District Assembly to operate a bank account in faraway Wa township.
Dr Apaak believes that in this day and age it should be possible for the Nandom District Assembly and for that matter all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana to operate bank accounts in their respective jurisdictions.
According to him, MMDAs should have an option of opening accounts in banks closer to them as it enables them to bring closer their activities to the people whom they are serving.
Dr Apaak, a Member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), proposed this when authorities of the Nandom District Assembly appeared before the Committee during the second day its sitting on Tuesday February 13, 2018 at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale.
“Mr Chairman, I think that the Assembly has to look at the option of establishing an account in a bank in Nandom whether it is rural or not. Because as a district, I believe that it is time that you bring your activities closer to home.
“……I must say I am a bit disappointed…..that today we have Nandom District still saving or having accounts in Wa. When I was Entertainment Prefect at Nandom Sec in early nineties I used to go to Wa and bring spinners to Nandom Sec and you’re telling me that today you still have to go to Wa to bank? After I have finished Nandom Sec, went on and came back and I’m here today, you’re still doing the same thing? This is not acceptable.
“So I think that on your advice Me Chairman, just to promote best practices, it should be the case that every Assembly should have an account in a bank within your jurisdiction” Dr Apaak proposed to the Chairman of the Committee James Klutse Avedzi.
Appearing before the Committee, authorities of the Wa East District Assembly also failed to give justifiable explanations as to why the Assembly recorded complete zero revenue in the 2014 fiscal year as it has been clearly captured in the Auditor General’s report.
A member of the Committee and MP for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem, Samuel Atta Mills who asked a direct question seeking explanation for what accounted for the deficit, accused civil servants of being corrupt and not politicians as it is widely perceived by the public.
“Mr Chairman I want to make a comment. Whenever we read about corruption, the first people they look at are we the parliamentarians. Are any of you parliamentarian? Are any of you politicians? Now the public should know when when we talk about corruption we’re talking about civil servants, not the politicians. Please give us a break”, Mr Atta Mills said.
The PAC of Parliament begun sitting on Monday February 12 , 2018 by first looking at audited reports of Polytechnics or Technical Universities from the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions.
Next to face the Committee are the MMDAs from the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions. PAC is however expected to round up its sitting in the Northern Sector by the close of the week and return to Parliament House in Accra.
By Savannahnews
