Accra, March 10,— The Government has presented to Parliament of Ghana the Ghana Audit Service report on arrears and payables as of December 31, 2024, uncovering GH¢8.1 billion in invalid claims and calling for deeper scrutiny of public financial management.
The audit reviewed GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted to the Ministry of Finance (Ghana).
Out of that total:
GH¢45.4 billion was validated for payment.
GH¢8.1 billion was rejected due to irregularities.
GH¢13.3 billion remains under review pending further justification.
The rejected claims were linked to unsupported documentation, duplicated entries, recycled invoices, falsified receipts, and payments claimed for work not done.
Report presented to Parliament
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister for Finance, presented the report in Parliament on behalf of Cassiel Ato Forson.
He said the audit, conducted by the Ghana Audit Service in collaboration with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers, exposed systemic weaknesses in financial controls.
Among the most concerning findings was a fictitious debt of GH¢89.4 million recorded under the One District One Factory programme.
According to the report, five commercial banks denied any liability, despite claims being submitted for payment under the initiative.
Additional irregularities uncovered
The audit also highlighted several other financial discrepancies, including:
Missing quantities of rice and maize under the government’s dry spell relief programme.
Inflated transport costs under the Farmer Food Relief and Recovery Programme.
Unfounded arrears of GH¢160 million reported for teacher trainees.
Mr Ampem described the findings as evidence of a deeply flawed financial system.
“This audit has exposed a rotten system designed to fleece the people of Ghana,” he told Parliament, noting that GH¢4.4 billion in recycled claims and duplicated entries were discovered across multiple ministries.
Possible prosecutions
The report has been referred to the Attorney-General's Department (Ghana) for possible prosecution of individuals and institutions implicated in fraudulent practices.
Mr Ampem stressed that the Ministry of Finance would implement stricter financial controls going forward.
According to him:
No payment will be made without full verification, and
No financial commitment will be entered without budgetary allocation.
He added that the government intended to strengthen accountability mechanisms in public finance management.
Parliamentary review underway
Mr Benard Ahiafor, who presided over the sitting, referred the report to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
The committee has been given three weeks to review the findings and present its report to the plenary.
Mr Ampem emphasised that the government, under John Dramani Mahama, would respond decisively to the demand for accountability.
“The Ghanaian people demand accountability, and that demand will be met with action,” he said.
GHBUSS
10 March 2026
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