The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) convened on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to scrutinize audit infractions involving the Ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, and Finance, along with their affiliated agencies. The high-level session saw ministers and agency heads respond to pressing questions on financial accountability and infrastructure progress.
Appearing before the Committee, Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza, announced that the long-awaited Kumasi by-pass project is back on track, with completion expected within 18 months. He confirmed that all outstanding debts to consultants and contractors have been cleared, paving the way for resumed construction.
Hon. Agbodza also issued a stern warning to third-party service providers enabling vehicle overloading, attributing part of the issue to faulty data from axle load stations. “Our contractors are doing well, and huge sums are being spent to build our roads. We will not sit by for greedy individuals to destroy them,” he stated.
Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, addressed concerns over unpaid railway workers, revealing that funds have now been released to settle 12 months of salary arrears. However, he acknowledged that railway operations remain non-functional, signaling ongoing challenges in the sector.
Deputy Finance Minister Hon. Ampem Nyarko represented the Ministry of Finance, accompanied by officials from key agencies including the Venture Capital Trust Fund, State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and the Internal Audit Agency.
Mr. Thompson-Aryee, Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency, made a passionate appeal to Parliament for increased staffing, disclosing that only 51 officers are currently responsible for auditing over 369 government agencies — a situation he described as “severely inadequate.”
PAC members commended Dr. James Kofi Kutsoati and his team at COCOBOD for successfully recovering unearned salaries paid to two employees of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division in Kumasi.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, announced that its hearings will continue on Thursday, October 30, 2025, as it deepens its oversight of public financial management and accountability.
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