President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to public officials implicated in financial irregularities identified in the Auditor-General’s reports, declaring that those found guilty will either be compelled to repay misappropriated funds or face imprisonment.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, the President expressed concern over the recurring financial losses highlighted in annual audit reports, describing them as a major drain on the national economy.
According to him, the repeated findings reveal longstanding weaknesses in public financial management and accountability that must be addressed to protect state resources.
“Every year, you hear the Auditor-General’s report. Ghana loses 12 billion cedis from misappropriations and other irregularities. The Chief Justice has graciously set up audit courts,” he said.
President Mahama explained that the establishment of specialised audit courts represents a significant step toward ensuring that individuals cited in audit reports face meaningful consequences for their actions, rather than simply appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
He indicated that the government plans to strengthen cooperation between the Auditor-General and the Attorney-General to prosecute cases arising from audit findings and recover public funds lost through financial mismanagement.
“The Attorney-General and the Auditor-General are going to identify all the people who have misappropriated funds, and we’re putting them before those special courts to either refund our money or proceed to Nsawam and go and catch some rest there,” he stated.
The President maintained that holding public officials accountable through the courts would serve as a strong deterrent against the misuse of public funds and contribute to greater transparency and discipline in the management of state resources.
His remarks underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening accountability mechanisms and tackling financial misconduct within the public sector as part of broader efforts to improve governance and protect the public purse.
