Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be firm and courageous in holding public officials accountable for the management of public funds, urging them to use their legal powers, including detention, when necessary.
He stressed that the committee must not hesitate to take action against officials who engage in misconduct during hearings, noting that its oversight responsibilities are too important to be treated lightly.
Speaking at the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees Conference, Mr Bagbin drew on his experience as a former member of the PAC, recalling instances when he ordered the detention of individuals during committee hearings to maintain discipline and ensure compliance.
According to him, PAC members must have the courage to challenge public officials and people in positions of authority when they fail to perform their duties properly. He added that members should be prepared to go beyond questioning officials and enforce the law whenever necessary.
“You must have that courage to be able to tell those in power that you got it wrong, and you must have the courage to go beyond that,” he said.
Mr Bagbin explained that the committee has the authority to apply the law when officials misbehave during hearings, including ordering their detention where appropriate.
He recalled that some individuals had previously been detained overnight and brought back the following day, a measure he said helped reinforce the seriousness of the committee’s work.
He further noted that the PAC plays a critical role in ensuring that public resources are properly managed and used in the interest of citizens.
Mr Bagbin said the committee’s mandate comes from the trust citizens place in government to manage national resources on their behalf, making it necessary for public officials to be accountable for how those resources are utilised.
He urged members to take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that accountability in public service is upheld at all times, stressing that the proper management of public funds must never be compromised.
