Togbe Komla Sakpiti V rarely raises his voice in public, but these days the weight pressing on the Bakpa Awadiwoekome stool is hard to hide. Since the Akosombo Dam spillage of September–October 2023 swamped communities across the Tongu enclave, families in his jurisdiction have been living in tents or squatting with relatives, waiting for a resettlement promise that has yet to materialise.

The disaster displaced tens of thousands in North, Central and South Tongu, submerging homes, farms and clinics. In the months that followed, governments announced committees and funds — a panel was set up under the previous administration, dissolved after the 2024 transition, then revived by the new NDC government. But nearly three years later, residents say they have heard nothing concrete.

“We don’t know whether to rebuild or keep waiting,” one elder in Awadiwoekome told neighbours at a recent community meeting. Togbe Sakpiti V, whose people still fetch water from unsafe sources and sleep under leaking tarpaulins, is now fielding daily pressure from youth groups and mothers who want answers.

Official records show that a resettlement plan was launched in 2024 with GH¢200 million committed for 2,803 houses in Tongu, and officials spoke of 115 units being built and later of 2,225 homes in phases. Yet visits to Degorme, Aveyime and nearby islands find hundreds — pregnant women, children, fishermen who lost nets and canoes — still in classroom shelters and tents, without clinics or livelihood support. Absence of a clear timetable and transparent register of beneficiaries has deepened frustration.

For Togbe Sakpiti V, the human toll is what matters: a community reluctant to trust official calendars, families divided between camps and host households, and young people drifting away. “The chief is not against government,” a local teacher explained, “but he is asked every week: what do we tell our children?”

As rainy seasons return and VRA warns of future controlled spills, Togbe Sakpiti V is appealing for one thing he says would calm tempers — a public update, names on a list, and work crews on actual sites in Bakpa Awadiwoekome, not just press statements. For now, life remains in limbo: nights under canvas, days borrowing cooking space from relatives, and a chief balancing custom with a growing demand for action.

Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Christopher Pappoe

Source: Samuel Nyamekye Jnr.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has intensified scrutiny of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources following revelations of major financial irregularities, including duplicate claims estimated at over GH¢80 million.

At a hearing in Accra, auditors’ findings exposed widespread discrepancies in the Ministry’s financial records, raising concerns about weak internal controls and accountability.

Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and PAC member, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, described the situation as deeply troubling, as she questioned officials over anomalies captured in the audit report.

The report revealed that claims exceeding GH¢1.1 million were disallowed due to administrative lapses, including duplicate entries and payment requests for expenses already settled. Additionally, about GH¢3.7 million remains unaccounted for, with auditors citing missing documentation, lack of third-party verification, and poor record-keeping.

A key concern during the session was the disclosure of duplicate claims amounting to more than GH¢80 million. Committee members described the figure as alarming, suggesting it could indicate either serious inefficiencies or potential fraud within the system.

Hon. Okunor pressed officials on how such claims bypassed internal audit and financial control mechanisms before reaching the Ministry of Finance, and whether any investigations had been initiated to establish accountability.

In response, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yussif Sulemana, acknowledged the irregularities but attributed them partly to the complex structure of compensation payments in the sector.

He explained that such payments often involve multiple institutions, including the Lands Commission, and may be processed through different channels, which can lead to inconsistencies when coordination is weak.

However, PAC members demanded clearer accountability, urging technical officers within the Ministry to provide detailed explanations and take responsibility for the discrepancies.

“This report concerns your ministry, and accountability must be ensured,” the Committee stressed.

The probe highlights growing concerns over public financial management and reinforces calls for stronger oversight to safeguard public funds.

Source: Mavis Fantevi

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been told that a change in audit requirements has delayed the clearance of several small claims totaling GH¢154,000 at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, April 1, 2026, Acting Head of Finance at the ministry, Kenneth Kyei Boateng, explained that all standard documentation requested by auditors had been duly submitted.

However, he said the auditors later introduced an additional requirement for suppliers to provide tax credit certificates from the Ghana Revenue Authority, a condition that was not part of the initial procurement and payment process.

According to him, this unexpected demand created a bottleneck, as suppliers were unable to produce the documents retroactively.

“The documentation required from us was provided to the auditors, except that they introduced a new requirement for suppliers’ tax credit from GRA, which was not part of the original process,” he told the committee.

He further noted that the ministry had already received goods and services from the suppliers under the agreed terms, making it difficult to go back and obtain the newly requested tax documentation.

“Because of that, the suppliers could not get it for us to forward to the auditors to enable the clearing of the claims,” he added.

The development has stalled the validation and payment of the claims, raising concerns within the committee about consistency in audit procedures and the impact of evolving requirements on public financial management.

Members of the Public Accounts Committee are expected to further examine the issue as part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.