Fuseini Damba Issifu grilled by PAC over missing GH₵71,000

Fuseini Damba Issifu, the Northern Regional Director of the Births and Deaths Registry, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to answer for GH₵71,000 in missing funds. The session, held on Monday, October 19, 2026, centered on financial irregularities identified in the registry's accounts during a review of the Auditor-General's report. Issifu faced intense scrutiny as committee members demanded a clear explanation for the questioned expenditures that occurred under his watch.

During the televised proceedings, the atmosphere grew tense as the director struggled to provide a coherent account of the missing money. Video footage from the hearing, which subsequently circulated on social media platforms like X, showed the director appearing flustered and unable to justify the financial gaps under persistent questioning. The PAC session serves as a public inquiry into the management of state resources, and the director's inability to provide documentation for the GH₵71,000 was met with significant concern from the panel.

The GH₵71,000 in question involves expenditures that were either undocumented or lacked proper authorization according to the preliminary audit findings. The Northern Regional Births and Deaths Registry plays a critical role in civil registration, and any financial mismanagement within the agency raises serious questions about the integrity of its administrative processes. Committee members expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting that such discrepancies undermine public trust in state institutions.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of financial accountability within regional branches of national institutions in Ghana. As the PAC continues its sittings, the focus remains on recouping lost funds and recommending sanctions for public officials who fail to adhere to the Financial Administration Act. The outcome of this specific inquiry could lead to further investigations by the Auditor-General or potential referral to legal authorities if criminal conduct is established.