On 11 December 2023, the audited public accounts for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2022 along with the report of the Auditor General thereon were presented to the National Assembly. Since then, the print media has been highlighting aspects of the Auditor General’s report on these accounts. In our article of 18 December 2023, we stated that public accountability does not end with the availability of the audited public accounts. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) must carry out a detailed examination of these accounts and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Assembly. However, the Committee is five years in arrears in its examination of and reporting on the public accounts. Its last report to the Assembly, issued on 21 July 2022, was in respect of 2016.
