Alban Bagbin urges PAC to detain officials failing to account for public funds

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to exercise its full authority, including the power of detention, to ensure public officials are held accountable for state resources. Speaking at the Sixth Conference of the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) in Accra on November 2, 2026, the Speaker emphasized that accountability must never be compromised. He urged committee members to exhibit firmness and courage in their oversight duties, asserting that their role is vital for ensuring that public resources are managed for the direct benefit of citizens.

During the conference, the Auditor-General, Dr. Pamela Graham, revealed that the Audit Service has recovered more than GH₵18 billion in public funds between 2022 and 2026. Furthermore, she noted that the service successfully prevented the loss of an additional GH₵11.7 billion in 2025 by identifying and blocking irregular payments. Dr. Graham stressed that audit findings should not merely serve as a historical record of mismanagement but must be actively used to shape policy decisions and strengthen internal controls across public institutions to prevent future financial infractions.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and PAC Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare echoed these calls for systemic reform, advocating for a shift from merely identifying irregularities to enforcing strict corrective actions. Osei-Asare highlighted the urgency of tracking audit recommendations more effectively, noting that as public debt rises and revenues decrease across Africa, identifying infractions without follow-up is insufficient to maintain public trust. Afenyo-Markin proposed five specific reforms for PACs, including real-time oversight and enhanced auditing capabilities, arguing that financial accountability must transcend political affiliations.

The conference served as a platform for African legislatures to collaborate on protecting public resources amid an evolving financial landscape. Speaker Bagbin challenged PAC members to be bold in challenging authority, reflecting on his own experience in enforcing discipline within the committee. The consensus among the leaders was clear: the true measure of accountability lies in the recovery of funds and the imposition of sanctions for wrongdoing, ensuring that parliamentary oversight leads to measurable improvements in the management of the state's purse.