Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was forced to suspend its sitting this morning after the Chief Director of the Office of Government Machinery failed to appear on time.

The committee members expressed displeasure at his absence and that of the Council of State administrators, describing it as a major setback to ongoing public hearings into the Auditor-General’s reports.

The Chief Director had been scheduled to provide crucial clarifications on queries raised against the Office of Government Machinery.

Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare, underscored the importance of punctuality by principal officers, stressing that their presence is vital for accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.

Ranking Member on the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, initially told members that the committee would suspend sitting for an hour after receiving feedback that the officials were on their way.

When the Head of Administration in Human Resources at the Council of State and the Council's accountant, Abdul Tahiru, eventually arrived, the sitting resumed.

Asked why he had delayed proceedings, the Head of Administration, Valentine Maayir, explained that he had been attending to some urgent tasks at the office which took longer than expected.

“Honourable Chair, a new Acting Executive Secretary has been appointed to the Council of State, and I needed to clear some issues with him before I leave.”

He added that if he had known the activity, which had a deadline from 'superiors', would extend beyond 9 am, he would not have engaged in it and apologised.

But Samuel Atta-Mills would have none of that, insisting in a fiery tone that "deeply sorry, is a different thing altogether."

"Why didn't you respond? Why did you think that the new Executive Secretary [to the Council of State] was more important than the Parliament of Ghana?"

The Chief Director responded that "we acknowledge that the Executive Secretary to the Council of State is not more important than members of this August committee."

The committee accepted his explanation but firmly directed him to prioritise punctuality and ensure full cooperation at subsequent hearings.

Abena Osei Asare told him that "you should know better."

Before that, Chief Director of the Office of Government Machinery, Alhaji Abubakar Wayo, who was also late, was rebuked.

Chairperson Abena Owusu Asare expressed deep resentment at the action of the officers, chiding both the Chief Director and the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency for not taking the committee seriously.

“Please take the Public Accounts Committee seriously! Dr. Wayo has been in this system for God knows when. You are supposed to appear here with your head - and the letter we wrote to you was very clear. Wherever he is, he has to come for us to continue with the proceedings. Because that is part of his mandate as a Chief Director.