The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei Asare, has raised concerns about the growing pressure on public finances across Africa, warning that some countries are spending more on debt servicing than on essential sectors such as health and education.
She said the changing financial landscape, characterised by revenue constraints and increasingly complex borrowing arrangements, requires African Parliaments to strengthen their scrutiny of government borrowing and public revenue management.
Speaking at the 6th General Meeting and Conference of the African Organization of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) in Accra on Monday, November 2, the Atiwa East MP said public financial management challenges have made the oversight responsibilities of parliamentary committees more critical.
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“When public finances are under strain, many of our countries now spend more on servicing debts rather than health and education,” she said.
She warned that the pressure on national budgets could undermine the delivery of essential public services if governments and their institutions failed to ensure responsible management of public resources.
According to her, African Parliaments must pay close attention to every loan contracted and every tax collected to ensure that public borrowing and revenue mobilisation serve the interests of citizens.
She observed that revenues are increasingly coming under pressure while borrowing arrangements have become more complex, making it necessary for legislators to strengthen their capacity to scrutinise government financial decisions.
Abena Osei Asare said effective parliamentary oversight is essential to protecting resources needed to provide essential supplies to health facilities, improve schools and sustain other public services on which citizens depend.
She argued that accountability must not be limited to examining financial records or identifying irregularities but should also ensure that the necessary corrections are made.
The PAC Chairperson identified oversight of public debt servicing and revenue as key areas requiring frank discussions among African parliamentary committees during the conference.
She encouraged delegates to share practical experiences and develop approaches that would strengthen their institutions’ ability to monitor government expenditure and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources.
The conference is being held under the theme, “Oversight for Resilience: Strengthening Africa’s Public Accounts Committees Amid a Shifting Financial Landscape.”
Abena Osei Asare, who is also Vice-Chairperson of AFROPAC, said the gathering provides an opportunity for African legislators to collectively examine the challenges confronting public financial accountability and strengthen their response to changing economic conditions.
She called for stronger institutional capacity, cooperation with Supreme Audit Institutions, and effective enforcement of audit recommendations to ensure that parliamentary oversight produces measurable improvements.