PAC suggests upward review of rent charges of State housing facilities

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, of Parliament, James Klutse Avedzi has suggested the upward review of rent charges of State housing facilities. 

He said it has become necessary in view of the numerous defaults in rent payment on the properties, costing the nation huge sums of money to take steps to institute measures to ensure that State Houses are maintained. 

Mr Avedzi was speaking in Ho during public hearings on the 2015/2016 Auditor General’s reports on Municipal and District Assemblies and educational institutions in the Volta and Eastern Regions. 

Rent arrears from four Assemblies in the Volta Region comprising Kpando, Agotime-Ziofe, Ketu North and Nkwanta South amounted to GH¢40,958.00 in 2015, with the 2016 report detailing ten Assemblies who owed GH¢22,330.00. 

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee particularly raised concerns over the average cost of rooms in some areas after it came to light that despite a two bedroom state apartment in the Kadjebi District going for as low as fourteen cedis a month, the Assembly still owed almost GH¢4,000.00 rent for  2016. 

Most heads of Assemblies and schools blamed the pile up on maintenance costs, and said most facilities are in bad condition and either attract low prices or maintained by tenants for rent extensions.  

Mr Avedzi said the Assemblies must make budget allocations for the maintenance of such facilities and work together with tenants. 

He called on revenue superintendents to "be up to their tasks", and seek police assistance in retrieving revenue and assets that belong to the State. 

The report exposed scores of unaccounted for general counterfoil receipt books with six Assemblies in Volta Region, losing a total of 159 in 2015, whiles four Assemblies in 2016 also could not produce 44 such documents.  

Mr Avedzi asked the Finance Departments to handle records properly, and ensure that payment vouchers are not mixed up in the audits.  

He also urged staff of the Assemblies to pay back their salary advances and loans, and charged the auditors to ensure strict compliance.  

Mr Avedzi warned the Assemblies and schools against purchasing goods and services from non-VAT registered entities.

Source: GNA
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