The government has presented to Parliament the Auditor-General’s report on arrears and payables as of December 31, 2024, revealing widespread financial irregularities involving billions of Ghana cedis.
The audit, conducted by the Ghana Audit Service in collaboration with EY and PwC, examined claims totalling GH¢68.7 billion submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
Of this amount, GH¢45.4 billion was validated for payment, while GH¢8.1 billion was rejected due to unsupported documentation, duplicate submissions, recycled invoices, falsified receipts, and claims for work that was never carried out.
Another GH¢13.3 billion in claims is still under review pending further justification.
Mr. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister of Finance, presented the report in Parliament on Tuesday on behalf of Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
He described one of the most concerning findings as a fictitious debt of GH¢89.4 million under the One District, One Factory programme, where five commercial banks denied liability despite claims submitted for payment.
The audit also uncovered 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,” Mr. Ampem declared, citing recycled claims worth GH¢4.4 billion and duplicated entries across several ministries.
He stressed that the Ministry of Finance would no longer approve payments without full verification and would ensure that no commitment is made without proper budgetary allocation.
The report has been referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution of individuals and institutions implicated in fraudulent activities.
“Going forward, the Finance Ministry pledged that no payment will be made without full verification, and no commitment entered into without budgetary allocation,” Mr. Ampem emphasised.
“This moment marks a decisive break from the past,” he added.
Mr. Ampem concluded: “The Ghanaian people demand accountability, and under the Government of President John Dramani Mahama, that demand will be met with action.”
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, who presided over the sitting, referred the report to the Public Accounts Committee, which is expected to report back to Parliament within three weeks.
