An extensive government audit of public claims has unearthed significant financial irregularities, leading prominent public figures to demand immediate criminal prosecution and administrative action against culpable officials. The audit, which reviewed a staggering GH¢68.7 billion in submitted claims, revealed clear instances of criminal intent and wilful negligence within the system, according to former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Fuseini.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, March 14, Mr. Fuseini, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, emphasized that the scale of irregularities—including duplicated invoices, unsupported documentation, and inflated claims running into billions of cedis—could not simply be dismissed as administrative errors. He stated, “There must be criminal intent and wilful negligence in what we are seeing,” underscoring that the discrepancies point to deliberate wrongdoing by individuals involved in the processing and approval of public claims.

The Ministry of Finance disclosed in Parliament that GH¢8.1 billion in public claims had been outright rejected due to these identified irregularities. While GH¢45.4 billion was validated for payment, a substantial GH¢13.2 billion was flagged for serious concerns, with former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo specifying this amount as GH¢13.3 billion still under review due to missing documentation, incomplete contracts, or absent third-party confirmations. Among the notable issues highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report, which discusses government arrears and payables as of 2024, was the unaccounted-for purchase of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice, raising questions about transparency in food distribution.

Following these revelations, there has been a chorus of calls for decisive action. Mr. Fuseini stressed the necessity of appropriate legal processes to follow the audit findings, advocating for the prosecution of culpable individuals to deter future misconduct and restore public confidence in the management of state resources. He argued that the nature of these discrepancies demanded a strong legal response.

Similarly, Senyo Hosi, Convener of the OneGhana Movement and Trustee of the Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey, urged the government to transition swiftly from mere discussion to concrete action. On the same JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, March 14, Mr. Hosi asserted that the audit findings provide strong “indicative information to prosecute people.” He lamented Ghana’s history of discussing financial irregularities without meaningful consequences and called this an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to accountability, stating, “No more talks. If we are serious as a country, this information should lead to prosecutions.”

Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo added his voice, specifically advocating for immediate administrative action against public officials implicated in the report. Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, March 14, Mr. Domelevo argued that officials found involved in wrongdoing should face immediate suspension or interdiction, even before parliamentary investigations are concluded. He highlighted that parliamentary committees lack the authority to enforce sanctions, placing the onus on the executive for implementation, while the Attorney-General would handle investigations and potential prosecution. “Administrative sanctions alone send a clear signal to Ghanaians that malfeasance will not be overlooked,” Domelevo remarked, emphasizing that action should precede protracted parliamentary deliberations.

In response to the audit findings, the Ministry of Finance has confirmed that it has referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice for possible criminal prosecution. Furthermore, the Ministry has announced the implementation of a new “triple-lock” accountability framework, designed to strengthen verification and budget controls, thereby preventing similar irregularities before payments are approved.