John Jinapor, Energy Minister
THE MINISTRY of Energy has been identified as the sector with the highest financial irregularities in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report.
The Ministry recorded a staggering GH¢15.8 billion, approximately 86% of the total public sector irregularities recorded for the year.
The Ministry of Energy accounted for GH¢15,832,975,487 of the GH¢18.42 billion in total financial irregularities for the year ending December 31, 2024, according to the Auditor-General’s report on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The majority of these irregularities resulted from contract and procurement breaches, as well as store and tax-related issues.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is at the center of the issue, with its financial underreporting and weak internal controls contributing to some of the most serious breaches highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
Notably, in 2023, ECG understated its revenue by over GH¢2.95 billion, reporting only GH¢8.64 billion to the Ministry of Energy and other oversight bodies despite collecting GH¢11.59 billion.
This is particularly concerning amid the country’s ongoing efforts to recover and invest heavily in energy sector infrastructure, access, and transition projects.
The Auditor-General’s report emphasises that while a significant portion of the irregularities is recoverable, there is a pressing need for stricter enforcement of financial management rules, improved accountability, and stronger internal audits within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
A Business Desk Report