The Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has informed the Parliament of Ghana that an audit has uncovered duplicated and overstated claims amounting to GH¢1.4 billion across several government institutions.
Presenting findings from the report of the Auditor-General of Ghana on arrears and payables as at the end of 2024, Mr Ampem said the irregularities were identified across multiple Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the report, the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ghana recorded the largest duplicated claims, amounting to GH¢408.31 million.
The Ministry of Energy Ghana was also found to have duplicated claims totalling GH¢386.71 million.
Mr Ampem said the National Service Scheme Ghana overstated allowance arrears by GH¢334.5 million, pointing to weaknesses in the verification and processing of personnel payments.
Other institutions cited in the report include the Ministry of Roads and Highways Ghana, which recorded duplicated claims of GH¢125.65 million, and the Ministry of Health Ghana, which had duplicated claims amounting to GH¢114.2 million.
The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) was also found to have duplicated claims totalling GH¢8.8 million.
Following the findings, the Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has referred the report to the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice Ghana for possible criminal prosecution of individuals implicated in the irregularities.
Addressing lawmakers, Mr Ampem said the government is determined to hold those responsible accountable.
“The administration of President John Dramani Mahama will not accept a system that normalises waste or asks citizens to pay for fraud,” he said.
He warned that public officials involved in falsifying records or colluding with contractors would face the full force of the law, regardless of their position.
The government says the measures mark a renewed effort to strengthen accountability and restore discipline in the management of public finances.
