The Financial Scrutiny Project

The Financial Scrutiny Project funded by DFID is designed to strengthen the capacity of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Ghana’s Parliament and thereby enhance the Parliament’s role as the “keeper of the public purse.” The Department for International Development (DFID), UK, through its local office in Ghana, has provided a grant of £332,412 (Three hundred and thirty two thousand, four hundred and twelve Pounds Sterling) for the period May 2007 to November 2009 to support this parliamentary strengthening activity. This is part of DFID’s global governance programme aimed at helping developing countries build their capacity in areas like public financial management, transparency, improved accountability and the deepening democratic practices.

At the outcome level the project is engaged in building the functional and managerial capacity of Parliament and MPs to undertake effective budget and financial oversight. Apart from assisting the PAC to improve their knowledge of the public financial management and scrutiny of the evidence produced by the Auditor General, the project is aimed at building public support for the work of the Committee and Parliament by supporting the Committee to hold its meetings in public. Ultimately, the financial scrutiny project aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the allocation and application of Ghana’s public funds.

At the level of outputs, the project provides a well equipped liaison office for regular interaction and review of the collaborative efforts of the Audit Service and the Secretariat of the PAC, furnished space to be used as a Committee Room for the PAC of Parliament and other Parliamentary Committees when not in use by the PAC. These facilities are located within the Parliamentary Centre’s Training and Resource Unit which is jointly supported by Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) UK Department for International Development (DFID) and United State Agency for International Development (USAID). At the Training and Resource Centre, MPs also have the opportunity to network with colleagues from other parliaments across Africa who regularly participate in budget oversight and budget-related training activities at the facility.