Ghana Parliament: Alima Mahama Embattled Over Ghana Embassy Spending Refund Demand

• The Minority caucus has questioned the legal basis for a demand by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for former Ambassador Alima Mahama to refund monies linked to activities at the Ghana Embassy in Washington.
• The power of disallowance and surcharge is vested solely in the Auditor-General, according to Article 187 of the Ghana Constitution.
• The Minority argues that any action must follow due process, which was not observed in this instance.

The procedures prescribed by our Constitution and laws are not technicalities to be dispensed with at will.

The Minority caucus in Ghana's Parliament has raised concerns over the demand by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for former Ambassador Alima Mahama to refund monies linked to activities at the Ghana Embassy in Washington. The demand appears to cover expenditure outside the former ambassador's tenure, sparking questions about the legal basis for the action. According to Article 187 of the Ghana Constitution, the power of disallowance and surcharge is vested solely in the Auditor-General, leaving many wondering why the Minister intervened in this case. The Minority argues that any such action must follow due process, which was not observed in this instance.

A Special Audit Report by the Auditor-General on the Ghana Embassy in Washington covering January 2017 to June 2025 led to investigations into alleged financial and operational irregularities at the mission. The report's findings were used as a basis for the demand for refund, but the Minority questions whether this was done properly. Hajia Alima Mahama had previously served as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development from 2017 to 2021, raising questions about her potential liability in the matter. The Minority also notes that the Special Audit Report had not been laid before Parliament at the time of its statement, which is required under Section 16 of the Audit Service Act.

The Minority supports accountability and the recovery of public funds but emphasizes that any such action must follow due process. The government's demand for a refund from former Ambassador Alima Mahama may set a precedent for accountability in public finance, but it also raises concerns about the potential for abuse of power. Lawyers advising clients on public finance matters should be aware of these developments and watch for further updates as this case unfolds.

Lawyers advising clients on public finance matters should be aware that the government's demand for a refund from former Ambassador Alima Mahama may be challenged as violating due process requirements, and they should watch for further developments on this case as it sets a precedent for accountability in public finance.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com