Sam George aims subtle jab at Abena Osei-Asare during PAC hearing

Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has blamed the Akufo-Addo administration’s economic mismanagement for Ghana Post’s rising expenditure in 2023, drawing a mild rebuke from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chair, Abena Osei-Asare.

Appearing before the committee on November 3, Sam George argued that a weakened cedi led to higher foreign exchange payments to airlines, which inflated the company’s operating costs.

“When you saw the mismanagement when Ken Ofori-Atta, Abena [Osei-Asare], and Dr. Bawumia were in charge of the economy, this was the result,” he remarked.

His comment drew laughter from some members but prompted an immediate response from Osei-Asare, who urged him to stay focused.

“Just go straight to your answer and don’t be name-calling,” she said, cutting in during the exchange.

Ghana Post’s 2023 financials revealed a 35% rise in operating costs and a 52% increase in administrative expenses, despite recording profits that year. Pressed further, George clarified that the rise in expenditure was largely due to forex losses rather than inefficiency within the company.

Osei-Asare, however, suggested that other unnecessary expenses might have contributed to the increase, urging closer scrutiny of how state enterprises manage funds. “These are the other things we should be looking at. There are equally important areas we must focus on to guide them better,” she noted.

The chair, in recent times, has come under criticism over her handling of PAC hearings, with some labelling her as overtly partisan.

Meanwhile, MP for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has formally petitioned Speaker Alban Bagbin to remove Mrs. Asare as PAC chair.

He warned that allowing the chair to continue in her role dented Parliament’s image.