Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament clashed on Tuesday, September 1 after officials of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) appeared before them to answer questions relating to their operations.
During the sitting, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency Sam George raised issues that centered on GNPC’s allocation to support the Okyenhene’s project as well as the Rebecca Foundation.
The board of the GNPC last year approved GH¢1.5 million to the Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Panin, for a tree-planting project, amidst concerns that it was a bad decision because the corporation was saddled with debts.
Reports indicated that the money was approved for the 20th anniversary of the Paramount Chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
The GNPC also allocated some money to support the First Lady’s foundation.
Mr Sam George said during the sitting that “I am trying to situate how approval for CSRs emanated from the Board Secretary to the Chief Executive and not from the Foundation.
“ And this had to do with GH¢120,000 to the Rebecca Foundation, GH¢1.8 million to the Okyenhene’s 20th Anniversary celebration, GH¢50,000 to the Ghana Journalist Association, $30,000 to the Ghana Boxing Association and GH¢400,000 to Damba Festival and GH¢550,000 to EOCO which is also a state entity that is under a Ministry. So I am trying to understand how this did not happen under the auspices of the Foundation.
“Those are the umbrellas under which the activities of the foundation is situated.”
However, reports indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Nanton, Alhaji Mohammed Hardi Tufero, was not enthused about the posture of Mr George and further questioned the Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, as to why he will permit the line of questioning by Sam George.
But in reply, the Chair of the Committee said: “I am the Chair of the Committee. The rules are that we allow public interest questions. I have approved it. If I approve public interest questions, I do not have the responsibility to call the Deputy Public Ranking Member of the committee to tell you that I have approved this public interest question. If you want to take over, come and take over.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana