Davis Ansah Opoku: No Ghana PAC COVID Fumigation Audit Arrests

• Ghana's Public Accounts Committee Vice Chairperson, Davis Ansah Opoku, stated there is no immediate basis for arrests regarding alleged omissions in the COVID-19 fumigation audit.
• Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni found the Auditor-General reported GH¢96.3 million for fumigation, while ministry documents indicated at least GH¢780 million.
• Opoku clarified that the GH¢96.3 million was for a specific Ghana Education Service activity, not the total national expenditure.
• The PAC's immediate priority is to demand explanations from the Audit Service regarding omitted expenditures from the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Transport.
• The committee plans to audit the actual figures for these previously uncaptured expenditures once provided by the Audit Service.

The PAC aims to understand why expenditure incurred by the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Transport was not included in the Auditor-General's report on COVID-19 spending.

On September 16, 2026, the Vice Chairperson of Ghana's Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Davis Ansah Opoku, addressed public concerns regarding alleged discrepancies in COVID-19 fumigation expenditure. Speaking in response to a recent investigation, Mr. Opoku stated that there is currently no basis for arrests concerning the reported omission of certain expenditures from the Auditor-General's special audit. His comments came after investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni brought to light significant differences in reported figures.

Mr. Opoku, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, emphasized that the immediate priority for the Public Accounts Committee is to seek clarification from the Audit Service. The PAC aims to understand why expenditure incurred by the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Transport was not included in the Auditor-General's report on COVID-19 spending. This focus underscores the committee's commitment to thorough oversight before considering punitive measures, particularly in the context of Ghana PAC COVID fumigation audit arrests.

The PAC Vice Chair's remarks followed a detailed investigation by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni into COVID-19 expenditure, particularly focusing on COVID-19 fumigation expenditure Ghana. Awuni's findings revealed a stark contrast between the figures presented in the Auditor-General's special audit and those indicated by ministerial documents. The Auditor-General's report cited GH¢96.3 million as the total COVID-19 fumigation expenditure.

However, documents obtained from the Ministries of Education, Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Transport suggested that the actual spending on fumigation activities amounted to at least GH¢780 million. Mr. Ansah Opoku clarified that the GH¢96.3 million figure should not be automatically interpreted as the comprehensive total for all COVID-19 fumigation expenditure across the government. He explained that this specific amount pertained to a particular activity undertaken by the Ghana Education Service and was appropriately captured within the audit report, forming part of the broader Davis Ansah Opoku COVID audit discussions.

Acknowledging the concerns raised, Mr. Ansah Opoku conceded that the Auditor-General's report did not provide extensive details on certain areas of expenditure, specifically mentioning fumigation activities by the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Transport. Despite these omissions, he firmly rejected calls for immediate arrests, which he described as premature given the current stage of inquiry.

The Mpraeso MP elaborated on the Ghana Auditor-General COVID spending reporting practices, explaining that the Auditor-General is not obligated to report on every item audited, especially if no infraction is identified. He stressed that if every audited item without an issue were to be reported, the Auditor-General's reports would become excessively voluminous, potentially comprising numerous pages and paragraphs even for institutions performing well. This perspective suggests a focus on reporting anomalies rather than comprehensive listings of all expenditures.

In light of the identified discrepancies and the Auditor-General's reporting methodology, Mr. Ansah Opoku outlined the Public Accounts Committee Ghana audit's next course of action. The committee intends to directly engage with the Auditor-General and the Audit Service to ascertain the precise reasons for the omission of expenditures related to the Ministries of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Transport from the special audit.

The PAC's objective is to compel the Audit Service to present the actual figures for these uncaptured expenditures. Once these figures are provided, the Public Accounts Committee will proceed with its own audit to ensure transparency and accountability in the overall COVID-19 fumigation expenditure in Ghana. This methodical approach aims to resolve the discrepancies and provide a clearer picture of public funds utilization.

Lawyers advising public sector clients or those involved in government contracts in Ghana should monitor the Public Accounts Committee's ongoing investigation into COVID-19 expenditure discrepancies, as it signals heightened scrutiny of audit reporting and potential future accountability measures for public funds.

Source: Original reporting via Abubakar Ibrahim