A transport officer at the Northern Regional Health Directorate has been suspended and referred to the police for investigation after allegedly selling seven state-owned vehicles without authorisation, raising concerns about accountability and the management of public assets. Newscard
The officer, identified as Timothy Banzaazi, was cited by the Auditor-General over the unauthorised disposal of the vehicles and the failure to account for proceeds from the transactions.
The matter came before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during discussions on the management and disposal of government property.
Appearing before the committee, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, explained that the officer had disposed of the vehicles without informing the appropriate authorities.
According to Prof. Akoriyea, the total amount involved was GH¢13,803. He told the committee that four of the seven vehicles had been returned, while the officer had accounted for the proceeds relating to three vehicles.
The GHS Director-General said the matter had been reported to the Ghana Police Service for possible criminal prosecution.
He added that internal disciplinary proceedings had also been initiated, resulting in Banzaazi’s temporary suspension.
Prof. Akoriyea said the service had taken steps to recover the money involved in the transactions.
“We reported him to the police. They are handling it as a criminal case. We used our disciplinary proceedings, and he’s been suspended temporarily. And we made sure that he paid the full amount,” he told the committee.
The explanation, however, did not satisfy the Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee, Samuel Atta-Mills, who questioned whether a temporary suspension was an adequate response to the alleged misconduct.
Mr Atta-Mills argued that the officer should not have sold government vehicles without the necessary approval or disclosure to the relevant authorities.
He also questioned why Banzaazi remained out of custody despite the seriousness of the allegations.
“Here is a guy. He wasn’t supposed to sell these vehicles. He sold them without disclosing to anybody, and he didn’t account for the money,” the ranking member said.
“He sold seven of your vehicles, and he’s walking free,” he added.
His comments highlighted broader concerns about how public institutions respond when officers are suspected of mismanaging government property.
The committee’s concerns centre not only on the financial value of the transactions but also on the procedures that should govern the disposal of state-owned assets.
Government vehicles are public resources, and their sale is expected to follow established administrative and financial controls.
Such controls are intended to ensure that assets declared surplus or unserviceable are properly assessed, approved for disposal and transferred through transparent procedures.
They also help institutions establish the value of assets and ensure that any money generated from their sale is properly recorded and paid into the appropriate accounts.
When these procedures are bypassed, public institutions may face difficulties establishing whether assets were disposed of fairly and whether the state received the full value due to it.
The Northern Regional Health Directorate operates within the wider Ghana Health Service, which is responsible for delivering public healthcare across the country. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Proper management of vehicles is important to the work of health institutions, where transport may be needed for supervision, administration, medical outreach and the movement of personnel and supplies.
The alleged unauthorised sale therefore raises questions about the internal controls used to monitor vehicles and other public assets within the health sector.
The case also places renewed attention on the role of the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee in examining irregularities identified in public institutions.
Audit findings are presented to Parliament to support scrutiny of public expenditure, identify weaknesses in financial management and encourage corrective action.
The PAC’s proceedings allow officials to explain audit observations and outline measures taken to address them.
However, the committee’s questions can also expose disagreements over whether administrative sanctions are sufficient or whether further action is needed to establish responsibility and protect public funds. Corrections Policy
In Banzaazi’s case, the Ghana Health Service says disciplinary action has been taken and the matter referred to the police.
The police investigation will be important in determining whether the circumstances surrounding the vehicles’ disposal warrant criminal charges and prosecution.
The recovery of money or return of assets does not, by itself, settle every question raised by an alleged breach of procedure.
Investigators may still need to establish how the transactions occurred, who authorised or participated in them, and whether applicable laws or regulations were violated.
At the same time, the allegations must be distinguished from a final finding of guilt. Banzaazi has been cited in connection with the matter, but any criminal liability must be determined through the appropriate legal process.
The case serves as a reminder that public institutions need clear procedures for asset disposal, reliable documentation and effective supervision to prevent irregular transactions.
It also highlights the importance of proportionate disciplinary measures and transparent investigations when suspected misconduct involves government property.
As the police handle the matter, the concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee are likely to keep attention on how the Ghana Health Service safeguards state assets and responds to audit findings. Editorial Standards
The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings will determine the next steps in the case.
For now, the key issues remain the alleged unauthorised sale of the seven vehicles, the recovery of the proceeds and whether the measures taken by the health authorities adequately address the concerns raised before Parliament.