Timothy Banzaazi interdicted for unauthorized sale of seven state vehicles

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has interrogated the leadership of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) following an Auditor-General’s report that a transport officer in the Northern Region sold seven state-owned vehicles without the necessary authorization. Timothy Banzaazi, who served as a transport manager, allegedly disposed of the vehicles and initially failed to account for proceeds totaling GH₵13,803. The revelation has sparked concerns among lawmakers regarding the management of public assets within the health sector.

During the hearing, GHS Director-General Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea confirmed the misconduct and reported that Banzaazi has been interdicted. Although the officer has since repaid the GH₵13,803 and four of the seven vehicles have been successfully recovered, PAC members expressed strong reservations about the handling of the case. The committee noted that the unauthorized transactions were kept hidden from the service's authorities until the Auditor-General flagged the discrepancies.

Ranking Member of the PAC, Samuel Attah-Mills, criticized the perceived leniency of the current disciplinary actions. He argued that temporary suspension or interdiction was an insufficient punishment for the severity of the misconduct, particularly as Banzaazi remained free while the police investigation proceeded. Attah-Mills questioned why more stringent measures had not been taken immediately to address the illegal disposal of government property and to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Ghana Health Service leadership informed the committee that the matter is currently under active police investigation. While the repayment of the funds and the partial recovery of the fleet have mitigated some of the financial loss, the committee has urged the GHS to strengthen its internal controls over transport management. The inquiry highlights broader systemic challenges in safeguarding state property and ensuring that officials who bypass procurement and disposal laws face appropriate legal consequences.