Lack of documentation on GHS802k health payment ‘unacceptable’ – PAC to MoH

Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, has demanded that the Ministry of Health produce supporting documents for a payment of GHS802,725 made towards the proposed construction of a CHPS compound in Kwanyako Asuogyaman. Raising concerns during a PAC sitting in Accra on Monday, September 29, Osei-Asare questioned why such a significant capital expenditure lacked documentation when reviewed by the Auditor-General.

“This is a capital expenditure item. Before you make any payment on capital expenditure, you need to attach the relevant documents necessary for the payments to go through,” she stressed.

She added that the lack of receipts or supporting documents for such a large payment is unacceptable and undermines transparency and accountability.

“It is a must that when you make payments, you get your receipt to show proof of payment. When auditors come — especially for a capital expenditure item — you should have all the relevant documents present,” she said.

Responding to the Committee, Daniel Nsiah of the Financial Reporting and Monitoring Department at the Ministry of Health attributed the issue to how the government’s electronic payment system, GIFMIS, operates. He explained that the GIFMIS platform, which is designed to minimise human intervention in financial processes, does not automatically generate traditional receipts.

“When the auditors come and you show them the swift advice, they don’t accept it as a receipt,” Nsiah noted.

According to him, although the payment was processed through the official treasury system, the Ministry did not initially collect a receipt from the supplier or contractor. He assured the Committee that efforts are now being made to retrieve the necessary documents.

“In this case, we have to call on them [the contractor] to submit the receipt,” he added.

The issue came to light during PAC’s review of the Auditor-General’s report, which flagged the payment as unsupported — meaning it lacked documentation at the time of audit. The construction of CHPS (Community-Based Health Planning and Services) compounds is a key part of Ghana’s strategy to improve healthcare access in rural areas. However, Osei-Asare emphasised that no matter the urgency or importance of a project, public spending must follow proper documentation protocols.

Source: Citinews.com