Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, James Klutse Avedzie is worried about the manner in which some 19 vehicles were auctioned to judges in 2021.

According to the MP, the criticisms emanating from the public about the move are warranted as the laid down procedure seems to have been breached.

His comments were in reaction to the recent Auditor-General’s report which indicated that at least 16 past and current judges of the Superior Courts were fingered for the purchase of state-owned vehicles contrary to Regulation 158 of Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe, the PAC Chairman explained that “it is your duty to ensure that the officer who is acting on your behalf follows the procedure because it’s coming to you as a personal property.

“You’re buying it. The Judicial Service is not buying the vehicle for them, it is you that is being offered. So you have to ensure that the State Transport Company did evaluation,” he told Emefa Apawu.

The regulation provides that the Principal Spending Officer of a covered entity shall obtain the prior written approval of the Minister for the transfer, exchange, sale, donation, contribution-in-kind, trust and any other disposal of any vehicles of the covered entity.

Regulation 158 also states that any such disposal, lease and other action referred to in Sub-regulation 1 that is made without the written approval of the Minister, is void.

However, the report revealed that some judges, including recently retired Supreme Court judges, Yaw Appau and Julius Ansah have acquired state-owned vehicles contrary to the provisions of this law.

The Auditor-General, therefore, wants the vehicles recovered.