The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has questioned the substantive increase of significant increase in rent payments made by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) between 2023 and 2024.

According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, the Agency spent ₵5.5 million on rent in 2024, compared to ₵3.2 million in 2023, representing more than a 72 percent jump.

When asked to explain the rise, management of YEA attributed it to a decision by the Ministry of Works and Housing to hand over management of the building to a private company, K&A, which now serves as facility manager.

Committee members, however, demanded clarity on the arrangement. During the session, one member pressed YEA officials on whether they knew K&A or had engaged them directly.

The YEA team responded: “We know K&A as a facility manager but we didn’t engage K&A. The agreement is between K&A and Works and Housing.”

PAC members were concerned about who exactly was receiving the payments. The Chair asked: “Whom were you paying the money to? Was it to Works and Housing or K&A?”

YEA officials confirmed that payments were made directly to K&A.

The Committee insisted on further documentation to establish transparency in the transaction. “The rent should be going to the Ministry. If you could provide this committee with some traces that indicate that K&A paid this rent money to the Ministry, I think it will be of help… fetch a copy of the tenancy agreement or whatever MOU they have so we can understand fully what the arrangement is,” the Chair directed.