The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei Asare, has cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) against diverting funds allocated to Members of Parliament and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to finance so-called emergency activities.

She issued the warning during the Committee’s second zonal public hearing in Kumasi to consider the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.

“Assemblies must desist from using funds meant for MPs and Persons with Disabilities for any other purposes, including emergency activities,” she stressed.

Proceedings at the hearing revealed that the misapplication of funds remains widespread among several assemblies.

In some cases, monies earmarked for PWDs were used to finance events such as Independence Day celebrations and to pay retirement packages for assembly members.

“This practice defeats the purpose for which these funds are allocated and must stop,” she added.

The Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, who presided over the sitting, directed that all such misapplied funds be refunded within 30 days.

“All monies taken from MPs’ Common Fund allocations and PWD accounts must be paid back within thirty days without fail,” he ordered.

Mr. Atta Mills further explained that because Members of Parliament are not signatories to these accounts, their allocations are sometimes accessed without their knowledge.