The Korle-bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has been ordered by the Auditor-General to stop making unauthorized salary payments, having spent an alleged GH¢14 million from its internally generated funds over 13 months from 2022 to 2024, contravening the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA).
According to the Auditor-General’s report, KBTH is facing serious financial management issues, and it is yet to recover the amount.
This was revealed on Monday during the public hearing of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in Accra.
PAC on Monday, September 29, reconvened to continue its public hearings to review the Auditor-General’s report for the year ending December 31, 2024.
The Committee will, from Monday to Wednesday, October 1, scrutinize various government MDAs for alleged financial irregularities.
Among the ministries appearing before the committee will be the Ghana Statistical Service, Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Ministry for the Interior, Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department, and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs.
The others are the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Art, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Transport.
The PAC’s scrutiny of the Auditor-General’s report highlights the Committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in government financial dealings.
Further, KBTH has also allegedly been found liable for judgment debt payments totaling GH¢113,500 for two cases of negligence involving health personnel.
“These cases include an overdose of medication to a deceased person, and a swap of mortal remains of a deceased patient. The hospital has been ordered to recover the amount,” the report said.
The Auditor-General’s findings raised concerns about the hospital’s financial management practices and adherence to regulatory frameworks.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in managing public funds.
As a result, the Finance Ministry is working to ensure that government institutions adhere to financial regulations and recover unauthorized payments.
The government has pledged to take swift action to remove “ghost names” and close loopholes, restoring integrity to public financial management.
Source: GNA
The post Korle-bu Teaching Hospital’s GH¢14m financial breach raises alarm appeared first on Ghana Business News.
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