The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly to repay GH¢116,000 after it was found to have issued unapproved payments described as end-of-service benefits to some employees.

The issue came up during the Committee’s sitting on Tuesday, April 21, while reviewing the Auditor-General’s Department report, which flagged the Assembly for misapplication of public funds.

Officials from the Assembly admitted before the Committee that a total of GH¢135,000 had been disbursed without proper legal backing.

They indicated that GH¢19,000 has since been retrieved, leaving an outstanding amount of GH¢116,000 yet to be recovered.

The Committee expressed concern over the infraction and instructed the Assembly to refund the remaining funds within 30 days, warning that non-compliance could attract sanctions.

Chairperson of the PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, underscored the importance of adhering strictly to financial regulations.

“Respectfully, within 30 days we want the monies paid and the receipt given to the regional representative of the Audit Service, with a copy sent to the Public Accounts Committee,”she said