Misryoum reports the Public Accounts Committee has referred three senior high schools and officials to the Attorney-General’s Department for possible prosecution.
A procurement probe has turned into a possible prosecution as Misryoum reports that the Public Accounts Committee has referred three senior high schools and their officials to the Attorney-General’s Department.
The referrals follow procurement infractions highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Department report, with the cases discussed during the Committee’s ongoing sittings in Takoradi, in Ghana’s Western Region.. The schools named are Breman Essikuma Technical Institute, Eguafo Senior High School, and Efutu Senior High School.
Misryoum notes that the focus is on how public procurement rules were handled, and whether proper procedures were followed when contracts and purchases were made.
According to the Committee’s proceedings, Ranking Member Samuel Atta Mills said the action follows multiple breaches of public procurement regulations that were uncovered during deliberations.. He pointed to alleged failures in how procurement requirements were met, arguing that the process did not align with what public entities are expected to do.
In the case of Eguafo Senior High School, Mr Atta Mills alleged that items worth GH¢122,192 were sourced from 19 suppliers without competitive tendering, as required by the rules.. He also highlighted that procurement regulations generally expect entities to obtain at least three quotations before awarding contracts.
This matters because procurement compliance is not just paperwork. When rules on competition and quotations are bypassed, it can affect value for money and public confidence in how resources are spent.
The allegations also include a concern that some vendors were approached primarily to produce documentation for audit purposes, rather than being genuinely considered for the contracts.. Mr Atta Mills’ remarks suggest the Committee saw patterns that raised questions about the integrity of the procurement process.
Meanwhile, the Committee said the referrals are meant to strengthen accountability and ensure that public procurement laws are enforced. By sending the matter to the Attorney-General’s Department, Misryoum reports that the Committee is pushing the issues into the next stage of formal consideration.
Ultimately, Misryoum’s coverage of this referral points to a wider message: institutions handling public funds may face serious consequences if procurement procedures are not followed.