The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, James Klutse Avedzi, has disclosed that during his tenure as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he recommended that action be taken against certain individuals who violated the Procurement Act.

In an interview on Metro TV, monitored by GhanaWeb on Monday, April 14, 2025, he expressed disappointment that no action was taken against these individuals.

"For all the eight years that I chaired the Public Accounts Committee, I can remember recommending several people for prosecution, especially under the procurement law. People who have violated the Procurement Act should be prosecuted. These issues are sitting right in the Office of the Attorney General. Why have they not been able to prosecute?" he said.

"So, it's not that the committee has the power to punish. What we do is name and shame. If I’m called to appear before the committee and it’s shown that I embezzled state money, my children, my family, and my friends are all watching me. It’s an embarrassment in the first place. Then, when punishment is required, it is the courts that must take it up. The judges will determine if the law was broken, and if so, they will apply the appropriate punishment," he noted.

Public procurement in Ghana is governed by the Public Procurement Act of 2003 (Act No. 663), as amended by the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act of 2016 (Act No. 914).

The Act establishes the Public Procurement Authority, which is responsible for overseeing the procurement process and providing guidance to procuring entities.

JKB/MA

Watch the latest TWI news below: