The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered Takoradi Technical University (TTU) to retrieve more than GHS70,000 from a former staff who violated a study bond agreement.
Mr. Bright Oduro, a former employee, is the subject of the infraction.
He is said to have traveled to Canada to further his education under a bonded arrangement worth GHS82,000, but he did not return to serve the university per the agreement.
During the PAC meeting on Thursday, November 6 in Parliament, it was revealed that a substantial amount of money is still outstanding despite the university’s efforts to collect the money.
Deputy Director of Finance at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) Emmanuel Boadi informed the Committee that efforts were underway to retrieve the funds from Mr. Oduro and his guarantors.
He noted that the former employee has paid only GHC6000 out of the amount.
“What we did was that we had the bond form signed by the staff and the guarantors. When he refused to return, we contacted the guarantors to retrieve the money.
“They reached out to him, and as of Wednesday [November 5], he had paid GHS6,000. He has agreed to pay GHS5,000 every two weeks,” Mr. Boadi explained.
He added that the university’s lawyer was preparing to enforce recovery, including placing an embargo on the salaries of the guarantors to compel payment.
Responding to the matter, PAC Ranking Member Samuel Atta-Mills urged the university to step up efforts, stressing that the institution has 90 days to fully recover the funds.
“Go after the guarantors. How they get the money from him is not our concern, but we are giving you 90 days to collect the amount,” Atta-Mills directed.
The directive forms part of PAC’s larger effort to guarantee adherence to financial accountability laws and the retrieve public funds wasted due to contract violations and unfulfilled commitments.
