The absence of Health Minister Kweku Agyemang Manu and his two deputies were the focal point of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
During the proceedings, the Ministry’s Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Emma Ofori Agyemang, informed the committee that she was sitting in for the Chief Director and the Ministers who were yet to arrive.
This revelation did not sit well with Hon. Yusif Sulemana, a member of the Committee, who expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that the absence of the Ministers and their deputies was unjustified.
Furthermore, the absence of the leadership of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital was also questioned by the committee.
Madam Emma Ofori Agyemang, however, clarified that the absence of the heads was not deliberate and that efforts had been made to ensure their presence at the hearing. Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, directed the delegation to follow up on the whereabouts of the heads to ensure the smooth continuation of the hearing.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Patrick Kuma Aboagye, was present to respond to questions concerning his outfit’s activities.
The Committee’s frustration at the absence of key officials at the PAC hearing reflects the need for government officials to prioritize accountability and transparency in their duties. This development raises questions about the commitment of the Ministry of Health and its affiliated bodies to fulfilling their obligations.
