Accra, – Mr James Klutse Avedzi, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has directed that two former cashiers of the Judicial Service, who embezzled nearly GHC100,000 belonging to the State, must report themselves to the Clerk of the Committee.
He said they must appear before the Committee to respond to the issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report in their own interest.
“Failure to do so means the law would catch up with them,” he cautioned.
Mr Clemence Animabo, a former cashier at the Twifo Praso Magistrate’s Court and James Twum, a former cashier at the Wumfie Magistrate’s Court, were found to have misappropriated more than GHC71,759 and GHC20,037, respectively.
Mr Avedzi gave the directive when officials of the Judicial Service appeared before the Committee to respond to infractions in the 2018 Auditor General’s Report being considered by PAC.
Between August 2016 and December 2017, Mr Animabo, collected GHC220,046 but deposited only GHC148,287 into the accounts of the Judicial Service, leaving a balance of GH7C1,759 unaccounted for.
Consequently, the Auditor General in his report flagged the breaches and recommended a full recovery of the said amount.
Mrs Vera Takyi, Director of Finance, Judicial Service, who represented the Judicial Secretary at the PAC hearing, explained that upon the receipt of the Management letter, the officer involved was placed on interdiction and he refunded GHC10,492 leaving GH61,267.
She said later the cashier absconded and the Service had to lodge a complaint with the District Office at Twifo Praso and the Regional Police Command at Cape Coast.
She said their last check showed that the cashier was still a large but indicated that the Judicial Service had taken some remedial measures to ensure that all of its cashiers would have guarantors.
Mrs Takyi also stated that the Service had strengthened its monitoring processes and the non-tax revenue department was going round regularly to check on all the cashiers.
Also, between August 31, 2017, and August 15, 2018, Mr Twum, who was at the Wumfie Magistrate Court, collected a total of GHC64,444 and deposited only GHC44,407, leaving outstanding balance of GHC20,03.
The Auditor General’s report identified that the infractions that occurred were a result of irregular supervision.
Mrs Takyi explained that when the infractions were reported Mr Twum was placed on interdiction but absconded.
She said the case was reported to the Wumfie District Police, who were still handling the matter.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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