The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, has disclosed that the Auditor-General recovered nearly GH¢12 billion in disallowed expenditure in 2024 as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability in the management of public funds.
She said the Public Accounts Committee has received the Auditor-General’s latest report and will hold public sittings later this year to scrutinise its findings and ensure that public officials are held accountable for the use of state resources.
“We hope to sit on this later this year for the citizens to know the kind of work the Auditor-General has been doing in collaboration with the PAC to recover all the funds owed to the state,” she said.
Mrs Osei-Asare commended the close collaboration between the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee, describing the recovery as evidence of the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight in safeguarding public finances.
She, however, expressed concern over the persistent financial irregularities recorded across public institutions, noting that many of the infractions could have been avoided through strict compliance with existing laws.
“Many of the irregularities are preventable. It is not the case that the laws are not adequate; they are very adequate, but compliance is weak,” she said.
The PAC Chair urged public institutions to adhere strictly to the Public Financial Management framework and other applicable financial regulations, arguing that improved compliance would significantly reduce financial irregularities and strengthen accountability across the public sector.
Mrs Osei-Asare made the remarks at the launch of the 2025 Public Financial Management Compliance League Table, an initiative designed to promote transparency, improve compliance with financial management laws and enhance governance across public institutions.
