The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the management of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to engage the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to recover more than GH¢300,000 owed by 72 police stations and posts across the country.

The directive was issued during a PAC sitting after the Committee raised concerns about outstanding water bills owed to the agency by various institutions.

PAC Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare questioned why the CWSA had not engaged the leadership of the Ghana Police Service to recover the debt, stressing that the amount could be resolved through direct intervention by the IGP.

She urged the agency to approach the IGP and seek his assistance in ensuring that the outstanding bills are settled.

“You think the IGP would be happy that 72 police posts or police stations owe just GH¢300,000? If you go to him today, he will write a cheque for you. GH¢300,000 for 72 posts and this is how you want to embarrass the police? That 72 of their outfits owe GH¢300,000 to Community Water. You better go to the IGP and collect the money,” she said.

The debt, which exceeds GH¢300,000, has reportedly accumulated from water services supplied to the affected police stations and posts.

The Committee stressed the need for public institutions to settle their bills promptly to prevent the accumulation of arrears and protect the financial operations of service providers such as the CWSA.