KEY POINTS

• Public Accounts Committee Chair Abena Osei-Asare has praised National Petroleum Authority CEO Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe for his handling of questions about the agency’s operations and audit findings.

• She urged state-owned enterprises to act on audit recommendations by improving systems, recovering public funds where necessary and sanctioning proven breaches.

• Osei-Asare said audits should help strengthen accountability and public institutions, rather than simply blame individuals.

Ghana’s Parliament Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare, has commended National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Officer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe for his performance during the Committee’s proceedings.

She made the remarks on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during a visit by the Committee to the NPA, where members sought a better understanding of the regulator’s operations and the processes behind its work.

Osei-Asare said she was impressed by Tamakloe’s ability to respond to questions on the Authority’s activities and audit findings.

She noted that he demonstrated a strong grasp of the issues raised, providing answers across different areas of the Committee’s scrutiny.

The PAC chair said she was willing to commend public officials when they performed well, while remaining prepared to criticise shortcomings where necessary.

Her comments underscored the importance of competence and accountability among officials appointed to manage public institutions.

State-owned enterprises urged to act on audit findings

Osei-Asare called on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to take a proactive approach to resolving operational challenges and implementing recommendations arising from audits.

She said public officials entrusted with managing government institutions must take their responsibilities seriously and protect the resources and assets under their control.

According to her, officials should perform their duties in ways that inspire confidence in those who appointed them and demonstrate responsible management of public resources.

Her appeal comes as public institutions face scrutiny over how they manage funds, comply with established procedures and respond to weaknesses identified during audits.

She stressed that identifying problems through an audit was not enough. Institutions must follow up with concrete measures to address the issues uncovered.

Audits must lead to recoveries and stronger controls

The PAC chair explained that audits should serve as a practical tool for improving public institutions rather than simply assigning blame.

She said the findings should prompt corrective action, including strengthening internal systems, improving procedures and recovering funds where losses or improper payments are established.

Osei-Asare also stressed that sanctions should be imposed when breaches are confirmed.

Her position places emphasis on three key outcomes from public-sector audits: correcting weaknesses, recovering public resources where appropriate and holding those responsible for established violations accountable.

The approach is intended to ensure that audit exercises result in measurable improvements rather than recommendations that remain unimplemented.

Visit aimed at improving oversight

Osei-Asare said the Committee’s visit to the NPA was designed to help members understand the Authority’s operations and the processes involved in carrying out its responsibilities.

She explained that gaining direct knowledge of how public institutions function would help committee members ask more informed questions during their oversight work.

The PAC examines public accounts and scrutinises audit findings involving government institutions as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

Its engagements with state-owned enterprises are intended to help identify weaknesses, assess responses to audit recommendations and encourage better financial management.

Accountability remains a priority

Osei-Asare’s remarks reinforce the Committee’s position that public institutions must take audit findings seriously and demonstrate that identified problems are being addressed.

For SOEs, this means going beyond acknowledging audit reports to implementing recommendations, improving internal controls and ensuring that public resources are properly managed.

Her praise for Tamakloe also illustrated the Committee’s stated approach of recognising effective responses while demanding corrective action where shortcomings or breaches are identified.

The broader objective is to strengthen institutional performance and ensure that public officials remain accountable for the resources and responsibilities placed in their care.