James Klutse Avedzi, former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament
James Klutse Avedzi, the former chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has criticized the practice of recovering embezzled public funds from dishonest officials without imposing further repercussions.
In an interview with Joy News, the current Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission argued that allowing criminals to return stolen funds without facing prosecution creates a dangerous precedent that encourages corruption.
“The recovery of the money is good, it’s okay. We should do that. But that should not mean we focus only on the recovery of the money and ignore the punishment,” he said.
Avedzi highlighted the significant benefits dishonest individuals continue to reap even after being exposed.
“Someone takes $10 million of government money, trades with it, and makes an additional $5 million, then gets caught. They only have to pay back the $10 million. What about the $5 million profit or interest they’ve made?” he questioned, as quoted by myjoyonline.com.
He expressed concern that some individuals view public funds as their private property, which they can take and later return without facing any real consequences.
“In any case, why take government’s money and then later give it back? The government needs that money to fund projects for everyone, but you want to take it for yourself. It’s wrong,” he said.
To ensure that individuals who steal from the state face the full consequences of their actions, the former PAC Chairman is advocating for a shift from simple reimbursements to more severe punitive measures.
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