Ministry of Foreign Affairs Faces Scrutiny Over Financial Misconduct
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently under examination by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. This scrutiny follows the Auditor-General’s report, which has highlighted several financial irregularities. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Gyekye Quayson, led the ministry’s response to the committee’s inquiries at Parliament House, Accra, on Tuesday. The allegations involve issues such as unearned salaries and improper imprests, raising serious concerns about financial management within the ministry.
Specific Financial Irregularities Detailed
The Auditor-General’s report brought to light several specific instances of financial misconduct. The report indicated that three Foreign Service Officers at the Abuja mission improperly received unearned salaries. Additionally, 19 personnel at the Ankara mission, including the former head of mission, were found to have received unearned imprests. While the total amount of the imprests, €16,226, has since been repaid, the initial misuse is a point of concern. Furthermore, the report stated that $5,800 used by the former Head of Mission for Malabo, Esther Dzifa-Ofori, to purchase a MacBook Air laptop and three Samsung S10 phones remains unaccounted for, which is a significant financial lapse.
The investigation underscores the importance of financial accountability and transparency, particularly within government institutions.
Keywords
Related Keywords: Unearned salaries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, financial irregularities, PAC investigation, public accounts committee, salary scandal, foreign affairs ministry, embezzlement, government spending, audit findings
