The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Hon. James Klutse-Avedzi, has stated that most of the Public Health Institutions have been procuring on their own without recourse to the procurement laws.
He was of the view that from his observation most of these Public Health Institutions go contrary to section 20 of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act despite recommendations from the Auditor-General in every annual report to desist from such practice.
The Chairman of the Committee made this observation during the second day of the PAC sitting in Parliament House to consider the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies for the year ended 31st December 2022.
The Committee invited the Ministry of Health led by the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, to answer a number of queries cited against the agencies and hospitals under the Ministry.
Most common infractions cited in the Auditor-General’s Report 2022 includes Non-payment of rent, non-competitive procurement, payment of unearned salaries, hire purchase of vehicles and unsupported Payments.
Some of the clinics and institutions that were cited in the report for uncompetitive procurement includes Castle Clinic, Nurses Training College, Pantang, Princess Marie Louise Children Hospital, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, National Blood Service among others.
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service was also advised by members of the Committee to recruit more procurement officers to help in procuring items for the various agencies by complying with the laws.
