Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to exercise its legal powers, including detention, to enforce accountability among public officials who mismanage public funds.
He said the committee must be firm in carrying out its oversight duties and should not hesitate to take action against officials who engage in misconduct during hearings.
Speaking at the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees Conference, Bagbin drew on his experience as a former PAC member, recalling instances when he ordered individuals to be detained overnight to maintain discipline during proceedings.
He said committee members must be prepared to challenge those in authority and ensure that public officials answer for their handling of state resources.
“You must have that courage to be able to tell those in power that you got it wrong, and you must have the courage to go beyond that. It’s permitted that during the hearings, when there’s any misbehaviour, you can apply the law, and you have the opportunity of sending people into detention during the hearings of the Public Accounts Committee,” he said.
Bagbin added that officials who are sanctioned for misconduct during hearings are expected to conduct themselves properly when proceedings resume.
He described the PAC's work as central to good governance, stressing that its oversight role should not be treated as a routine exercise.
“So this is not a business to be toyed with. It’s real serious business. That is what governance is about, and you have that mandate,” he said.
He urged PAC members to carry out their duties diligently and ensure that public officials are held accountable for the resources entrusted to them.
