The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed the Wiawso College of Education to adopt more effective and innovative measures to recover GH¢380,315.23 in outstanding student arrears, largely owed by former students.
The directive follows a report from the Auditor-General’s Department, which indicated that 1,016 students owe the college a total of GH¢587,397.13 in unpaid fees. Of this amount, 510 graduates alone account for GH¢488,085.85.
Appearing before the PAC during a sitting in Kumasi, college management disclosed that only GH¢207,081.90 had so far been recovered, less than half of the total debt.
“Please, we have been able to recover GH¢207,081.90,” a college representative said.
Management explained that a significant portion of the debt stems from the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme, where some beneficiaries completed their studies but failed to pay their fees or collect their certificates.
“Most of them are from the UTDBE programme. After they completed, we used the system where they would pay all fees before collecting their certificates, and most of them did not come for the certificates. That is why we have this huge indebtedness, mostly from the 2017 programme,” management added.
Authorities noted that they have been relying on withholding certificates as a recovery strategy, but admitted this approach has not been sufficiently effective.
They also revealed that a letter has been sent to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to help locate the debtors.
However, committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the recovery efforts. Atwima Nwabiagya South MP Shirley Kyei stressed that waiting for graduates to return for their certificates is inadequate, especially since many are already employed and earning salaries.
“Sitting down to wait for people to come for their certificates before you recover the money is not good enough. You need to come up with innovative ways of recovery. These are teachers who are in the system and are being paid, so there are ways of tracking the monies,” she emphasised.
The committee reiterated that recovering the funds is essential for improving financial accountability and sustaining the college’s operations.
