Parliament has directed Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), to reimburse approximately GHc98,000 that was taken from the Authority’s account as a penalty for the delayed transmission of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions.
After failing to remit SSNIT contributions on time, the NIA reimbursed the penalty using Authority funds.
The Public Accounts Committee, by the Auditor General’s advice, has affirmed that Prof. Ken Attafuah and the financial controller should be charged with the penalty cost.
During his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, February 7, the NIA’s Executive Secretary was given a one-month deadline to repay the funds.
“The recommendation is that you should refund the money, the money should be refunded from the Chief Executive and Financial Controller. You have come to explain why you did not pay the money you withheld to SSNIT but the committee will not accept your explanation.
“So the recommendation of the Auditor General still holds, the Chief Executive and the Financial Controller should go and refund the money to the recovery account of the auditor general and this should be done in one month.”