When Accountability turns into Intimidation, could it be a matter of oversight or overbearing behaviour?

I have never hesitated to commend Ghana’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for its renewed energy and seriousness in enforcing accountability. In a previous article, I praised the committee for its firm handling of public hearings, its exposure of financial infractions, and its courage to question even the most powerful institutions.

The PAC has indeed been one of the few bodies standing between Ghana and the abyss of institutional impunity. The developments demand reflection, not because the PAC’s mission has changed, but because its methods, at times, risk undermining its moral authority.

The exchange between the PAC Chairperson, Hon. Abena Osei Asare, and the Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, is a worrying example. What began as a legitimate discussion on the digitisation of number plates turned into an avoidable confrontation.

The Chair’s question, whether the new RFID-enabled digital number plates would display vehicle owners’ surnames was valid. Ghanaians deserve clarity on data protection and privacy in any government digitisation initiative.

However, the tone and manner of the questioning left much to be desired. When the DVLA boss replied that the issue would be guided by law, the Chair snapped, “You don’t tell me it depends on what the law says. You are doing it. So you should be able to tell us that the law says ABCD.” This was followed by the now-viral remark, “Are you not the DVLA boss?” a comment that may have drawn laughter from some but embarrassment from many who expect parliamentary oversight to be conducted with decorum.

Mr. Kotey’s answer, though cautious, was reasonable. He sought to clarify that standard number plates do not display names unless they are personalised, and that the digitalisation process would comply with the Data Protection Act.

The Chair’s insistence that his answer was “not accurate” and her dismissive tone turned what should have been a productive exchange into a spectacle. Oversight is about extracting truth, not asserting dominance. The power of the PAC lies in its integrity, not its ability to intimidate.

Interestingly, a resurfaced video from her vetting as Deputy Finance Minister shows the same PAC Chair making even more troubling remarks in response to Hon. Kwame Agbodza, response that left many questioning her temperament.

It gives the impression that she believes she is always right. She must be careful not to turn a respected accountability platform into a stage for personal outbursts. True leadership in oversight is not about who can speak the loudest or embarrass the most witnesses; it is about asking intelligent questions with respect, firmness, and fairness.

Parliamentary committees are not classrooms, and public servants appearing before them are not errant schoolchildren. They are accountable to Parliament, but they also represent institutions that deserve respect. Oversight is effective only when conducted in an environment of mutual respect and intellectual engagement. When leaders use their platforms to belittle others, they erode public trust not only in themselves but in the institutions they represent.

The PAC’s mission is too critical to be tainted by arrogance. Ghanaians depend on the committee to expose corruption, recover stolen funds, and enforce fiscal discipline. That mission demands composure, objectivity, and emotional intelligence. When hearings become unnecessarily combative, the public focus shifts from substance to spectacle, from the policy issue to the personalities involved. That is not accountability; that is distraction.

Hon. Abena Osei Asare is an intelligent and capable leader, and her passion for transparency is not in doubt. But passion must be guided by professionalism. Every public official who wields oversight power must remember that respect does not weaken authority, it strengthens it. The most effective interrogators are not those who shout but those who listen, analyse, and dismantle arguments with calm precision.

The PAC should remain fearless, but not fiery for its own sake. Accountability should enlighten, not humiliate. Ghana’s democracy needs strong institutions, not strong tempers. In the end, the measure of effective oversight is not how many people you can silence, but how many truths you can uncover.

When power forgets humility, even the noble pursuit of accountability begins to look like bullying. And that, Ghana cannot afford.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.