The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament is today, August 8, beginning its second public hearing to consider the Auditor General's report on ensuring safety and quality of medicines in the country.
The committee will also look at the report on the governance of the national apprenticeship programme by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).
The Health and Education ministries, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA); and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are expected to make appearance before the committee today.
Standing Order 165 of Parliament assigns to the Public Accounts Committee, PAC, the examination of the audited accounts showing the appropriation of funds granted by Parliament to the government.
In the wisdom of Parliament, the PAC is one of the only two committees of the House chaired by a member from the minority side of the Legislative body. This is to deepen the mandate of the committee in scrutinising properly, the audited accounts of government institutions.
The live broadcast of sittings of PAC on national television also brings the committee's work closer to the public. The PAC has thus become one of the most popular committees of Parliament as it brings to the doorstep of the people, the principles of accountability enshrined in the constitution.
