Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to summon two public officials over the payment of GH₵8.2 million in mobilisation funds for a sanitation project that was never executed.

The officials, Bright Oduro Kwarteng and Theophilus Okine, are linked to payments made under the “Toilet for All” project, which was initiated in 2019 by the former Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, told the Committee that attempts to verify the transactions have been delayed due to missing documentation.

According to him, officials involved in the transaction indicated that the relevant documents had been sent to the National Archives.

“The truth of the matter is that this transaction took place at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources… under the leadership of Cecilia Dapaah… around 2019,” he said.

He said that although several years have passed, the key officers involved are still in public service and can account for the transactions.

“The officers who handled this transaction are still at post in other ministries. The director for procurement… Theophilus Okine is still at the Ministry of Defence. And Bright Oduro Kwarteng is now Director of Finance at the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness,” he explained.

The Minister expressed concern over claims that the documents had been archived despite the relatively recent nature of the transaction.

“The thing is not up to 10 years, and you are saying they have been sent to archives,” he said.

He further disclosed that although mobilisation funds were paid to contractors for various projects, including the construction of household toilets in Kumasi and Tamale, no work was carried out.

“They were given mobilisation, and they didn’t go to the site… the contractors and their names with the amounts are here, and we will make them available to the Committee,” he added.

He assured the Committee of full cooperation, stating that his team is ready to provide all necessary information.

“You call them, and my directors are ever ready to give whatever information you want,” he said.

Following the briefing, Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta-Mills, directed that the officials involved be invited to appear before the Committee.

“We will invite the minister and the current people there. And wherever the documents are, they will have to come with them,” he stated.

He questioned the decision to release funds without ensuring that work was done.

“You pay somebody mobilisation to go and work. The person doesn’t do it, but takes the money. Then you come back, you want to upgrade this contract and repackage it and give it to somebody,” he said.

Mr Atta-Mills also criticised the apparent lack of proper documentation within the ministry.

“What I don’t understand is the Ministry of Local Government… you were making payments for contracts that you don’t have. You don’t have the documents,” he added.

He indicated that the Committee will investigate the matter publicly once all parties appear.

“When all of you come, we will do it live,” he said.