The government has presented to Parliament the Auditor-General’s report on arrears and payables ending December 31, 2024, revealing widespread financial irregularities amounting to billions of cedis.
The audit, conducted by the Ghana Audit Service in collaboration with EY and PwC, reviewed GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Out of this amount, GH¢45.4 billion was validated for payment, while GH¢8.1 billion was rejected due to unsupported documentation, duplication, recycled invoices, falsified receipts, and instances of “no work done.”
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Deputy Minister of Finance, presented the report in Parliament on Tuesday, on behalf of Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
“A further GH¢13.3 billion remains under review pending justification,” he added.
Mr Ampem said among the most troubling findings was a fictitious debt of GH¢89.4 million under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, where five commercial banks denied any liability despite claims submitted for payment.
The audit also revealed missing quantities of rice and maize under the dry spell relief programme, inflated transport costs under the Farmer Food Relief and Recovery Programme, and unfounded arrears of GH¢160 million reported for teacher trainees.
“Mr. Speaker, this audit has exposed a rotten system designed to fleece the people of Ghana,” Hon. Ampem declared, citing recycled claims worth GH¢4.4 billion and duplicated entries across multiple ministries.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Finance would no longer serve as a “rubber stamp for weak controls and falsified claims.”
The report has been formally referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution of individuals and institutions implicated in fraudulent practices.
“Going forward, the Finance Ministry pledged that no payment will be made without full verification, and no commitment entered into without budgetary allocation.
“This moment marks a decisive break from the past,” Mr Ampem emphasised.
He added: “The Ghanaian people demand accountability, and under the Government of President John Dramani Mahama, that demand will be met with action.”
Mr Benard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who was presiding parliamentary sitting, referred the report to the Public Accounts Committee, for it to report to the plenary in three weeks’ time.
GNA