The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) has directed the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to refund some $17,397 or its cedi equivalent to the government chest within two weeks.
The amount was unaccounted for as they were used for foreign travels by members of the ministry but were not backed by the relevant documents.
The Chairman of the committee, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, gave the directive when a team from the ministry, led by the Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Hawa Koomson, appeared before the committee on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in to respond to infractions cited against the ministry in the 2018 Auditor-General's report.
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The report showed that an amount of GH¢183,360, ( or $38,200) was unaccounted for in the year 2018 as foreign travels.
Mrs Koomson told the committee that letters had been written to the officers with whom those infractions had occurred, and so far, receipts totalling $20,803 had been retrieved from the officers, leaving US$17,397 as outstanding expenses.
The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Kwesi Amo-Himbson, said one officer, who owed US$1,750 was deceased and retrieving the money would be difficult.
The chairman of the committee, however, said family members of the deceased should be contacted and made to refund the money.