The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, has urged state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to take a proactive approach to addressing operational challenges and implementing recommendations arising from audits.
She made the call during a visit to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, where she commended the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, for his performance before the Committee.
Ms Osei-Asare said she was impressed by Mr Tamakloe’s ability to respond to questions about the Authority’s operations and audit findings.
“I must say that I was really impressed with your CEO when he came for the Public Accounts Committee. Where it’s good, I’ll gladly commend you, and when it’s bad too, I won’t mince words,” she said.
Ms Osei-Asare said the NPA CEO demonstrated a strong understanding of the issues raised during the Committee’s proceedings.
“For every aspect of it, he was able to answer, and I was so impressed also with the audit on the UPPA. I take you to the left, you are able to answer. I bring it to the center, you give me good responses, and to the right, same,” she said.
She urged public officials entrusted with managing state institutions to take their responsibilities seriously and protect the resources and assets under their care.
“And I think that is what we should all do—that once you are entrusted with something, we should take it seriously and protect it and guard it and pursue it,” she added.
She said public officials should perform their duties in a manner that gives confidence to those who appointed them.
The PAC Chair stressed that audits should go beyond identifying weaknesses and lead to practical measures to improve institutional systems and procedures.
“Audit must lead to certain actions that correct systems, correct procedures, and make things better. That is all the audit is about. It’s not to vilify anybody, but then where we find that we can recover certain things, we recover. Where we need to strengthen systems, we do that. And where obviously there are breaches, sanctions must be carried out,” she said.
Ms Osei-Asare explained that the Committee’s visit was intended to give members a better understanding of the NPA’s operations and the processes behind its work.
“We just want you to take us through so that when we sit back and we are also asking questions, we know what we are talking about,” she said.
The Public Accounts Committee examines public accounts and scrutinises audit findings involving government institutions to promote accountability in the use of public resources.
Ms Osei-Asare’s comments reinforce the Committee’s emphasis on ensuring that audit findings lead to recoveries where necessary, stronger internal controls and sanctions where breaches are established.
The Committee is continuing its oversight engagements with public institutions, including state-owned enterprises, as part of efforts to improve accountability and the management of public resources.