The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Ministry of Labour and Employment over the disappearance of two vehicles purchased more than a decade ago and the subsequent accumulation of interest on the outstanding claim.
The matter forms part of a GH¢223,127 payment claim flagged by the Auditor-General in the special audit report on GH¢68.7 billion government arrears.
According to the report, the amount related to the procurement of two Nissan Tiida saloon cars, which cannot currently be traced. The audit also found that supporting documentation for the transaction was unavailable.
Appearing before the committee on 18 May, the Ministry’s Director of Finance, Mary Ninson, explained that records connected to the transaction could not be located, adding that the vehicles were “supposedly” procured in 2011.
She admitted the Ministry did not have adequate documentation relating to the transaction and said officials had informed auditors of the situation during the audit process.
Mrs Ninson further explained that although some payments relating to price adjustments for other items had been made, delays in settling the outstanding amounts had resulted in interest accumulation, a matter the Ministry of Finance had been informed about.
She also disclosed that documentation relating to two-horsepower air conditioners could not be traced, and the Ministry had similarly informed auditors of the missing records.
According to her, auditors later contacted the relevant institutions for clarification, but no responses were received.
