Health Service Transport Officer swerves PAC

A Chief Transport Officer at the Ghana Health Service, Ebo Hammond today miraculously vanished from the Public Accounts Committee(PAC) sitting today [Thursday] when officials of the Health Ministry struggled to explain why the procurement law was breached in the purchase of some vehicles.

Mr. Hammond reportedly developed a stomach upset during the hearing and could not be found anywhere when officials from the Ministry were answering question from member of the Committee.

Health Minister Alex Segbefia who was present during the hearing pleaded with the Committee to allow the Transport Officer to explain himself.

“For what it is, I believe the benefit of doubt should be given to him. It’s a different issue if he never attended and we heard on the grapevine that he said he had a stomach problem and he went to the loo.

“The reason why I am saying this is that even though your decision maybe the final outcome I think it’s appropriate that we also hear what he has to say on the issue before you pass this particular  judgement and we are sitting technically, I believe for three days so let us first of all ascertain what is happening with him, what has happened and then you can either then  decide at that point, Mr. Chairman whether to go on with the recommendation you have made or whether you will give him up till tomorrow morning to make himself available. If that does not happen then there is no way one can then fault any issue or gainsay any decision.”

Mr. Hammond’s disappearance at sittings comes barely a day after some PAC members complained about the Governor of the Bank of Ghana , Dr. Kofi Wampah’s continuous failure to appear before the committee.