The Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has disclosed that several government agencies overstated financial claims amounting to GH¢161.98 million, according to findings contained in the latest report by the Auditor-General of Ghana.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr. Ampem Nyarko explained that the discrepancies were uncovered during the audit process after confirmation responses exposed inflated figures submitted by a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Details in the report show that the Department of Urban Roads recorded the highest overstatement, with claims amounting to GH¢57.01 million. The Ministry of Transport followed with GH¢39.92 million, while the Department of Feeder Roads overstated claims totalling GH¢22.46 million.
Other institutions cited include the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with GH¢20.08 million and the Ghana Highways Authority with GH¢17.50 million. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration was also mentioned in the report, with overstated claims of GH¢2.68 million.
Mr. Ampem Nyarko noted that the findings expose persistent weaknesses in financial controls within the public sector and highlight the need for stricter monitoring systems to safeguard public resources.
In response to growing public calls for accountability, the Ministry of Finance (Ghana) has referred the Auditor-General’s findings to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice for further legal action.
The referral, according to the ministry, is intended to facilitate possible criminal prosecutions against individuals found to have engaged in the misuse or misrepresentation of public funds.
“The Mahama administration refuses to accept this rotten system; in fact, we refuse to normalise waste. And we refuse to ask the Ghanaian people to pay for fraud,” the Deputy Minister told Parliament.
He also issued a warning to public officials, stressing that status or position will no longer shield anyone from accountability.
According to him, whether senior officials or junior staff members, anyone found to have collaborated with contractors or manipulated financial records will face legal consequences.
Government officials say the move represents a turning point in the country’s approach to financial discipline and accountability. Under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, the administration has pledged to pursue stronger oversight and ensure that those responsible for financial irregularities are held accountable.
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