The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has referred the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for prosecution and recovery of GH₵28 million, allegedly paid illegally to top management between 2020 and 2021.
The payments, described as unbudgeted allowances and honoraria, were made outside the approved university’s budget without corresponding documented activities to justify them.
Appearing before the PAC on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, during a public hearing in Parliament House, Accra, Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor, UEW, revealed that the university’s internal investigation committee had been unable to retrieve the funds from former management.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to retrieve it. These are activities that the auditors have described as illegal,” he said.
The PAC’s referral to the AG seeks to recover the misappropriated funds and hold those responsible accountable.
This development highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in Ghana’s public institutions.
The issue surfaced when the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual, appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to findings in the Auditor-General’s Report on public universities.
Committee members grilled the university’s management over payments totalling GH¢28 million, which auditors had flagged as “inappropriately paid honorarium.”
PAC Chair Abena Osei Asare demanded a breakdown of the activities that warranted such payments and emphasised the need for transparency in the handling of public funds.
When asked to justify the expenditure, Prof. Mitchual deferred to the University’s Finance Officer, who confirmed the payments but noted that the matter had already been referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for investigation.
“EOCO has been engaged. We have written to them and continue to provide information when requested,” Prof. Mitchual told the Committee, adding that the University had maintained regular contact with the investigating officer in charge of the case.
The PAC Chair instructed that EOCO’s involvement be formally documented and that the University continue to cooperate fully with investigators.
“Okay, then we’ll allow EOCO to handle that and give the information to the auditors,” she said.
Ranking Member Samuel Atta Mills stressed that once EOCO concludes its investigation, “the Attorney-General will take over,” adding that “somebody has to pay” if wrongdoing is confirmed.
The Committee clarified that the audit findings covered the financial year ending December 31, 2024, and related to transactions carried out in 2022, before Prof. Mitchual assumed office as Vice-Chancellor.
The PAC’s inquiry is part of its broader oversight role to ensure accountability in the management of public institutions. The results of EOCO’s investigation—and any subsequent action by the Attorney-General—will determine whether recovery or prosecution follows.
