Talensi District Assembly explains GH₵181,170 cash payment for refreshments

The Talensi District Assembly has appeared before a hearing to address concerns raised in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report regarding cash payments totaling GH₵181,170 spent on refreshments. During the proceedings held on October 29, 2026, assembly officials were tasked with explaining the rationale behind using liquid cash for such a significant amount instead of following standard financial protocols. The inquiry focused on the assembly's adherence to financial regulations regarding high-value transactions.

Addressing the inquiry, an official from the assembly clarified that the GH₵181,170 was utilized to cover food and refreshment costs for various meetings conducted throughout the year. The official justified the reliance on cash by stating that local suppliers often demand immediate payment. According to the assembly’s testimony, these vendors expressed a strong preference for cash due to the perceived long delays associated with processing government cheques, which can often hamper the liquidity of small-scale local businesses.

Despite the explanation provided by the local authorities, the Auditor-General’s report highlighted broader financial discrepancies within the assembly's accounts. Specifically, the report identified a total of GH₵251,778.81 in expenditures from various funds that lacked any adequate supporting documentation. As a result of these findings, the Auditor-General has recommended that the officials responsible for these transactions be held personally accountable and required to refund the undocumented amounts to the state's coffers.