The Auditor-General has uncovered GH¢8.1 billion in questionable claims submitted to the Ministry of Finance in December 2024.
The findings, presented in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, show a mix of unsupported invoices, duplicated payments, and even fictitious accounts linked to major government programs.
“The Ghana Audit Service, working in partnership with EY and PwC, was tasked to verify and validate a total of GH$68.7 billion in reported arrears across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“Out of this, outstanding IPCs and Invoices amounted to GH$50.5 billion, while outstanding Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) amounted to GH$18.3 billion. Out of the GH¢68.7 billion submitted for audit, a total of GH¢45.4 billion was validated for payment. A total of GH¢8.1 billion was rejected for various reasons,” said the Minister.
The discovery follows a comprehensive review of unpaid invoices, Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), and Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) submitted by various ministries in 2024.
The audit was conducted in partnership with EY and PwC to verify claims submitted to the Ministry of Finance
The audit highlights lapses across multiple ministries and agencies, raising concerns about financial oversight and accountability.
The audit also revealed irregularities in the One District, One Factory initiative, including a GH¢89.4 million fictitious debt claimed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and phantom payments recorded to non-existent accounts.
Investigations into government expenditure on rice and maize to address the 2024 dry spell further uncovered large quantities of unaccounted grains and overpayments to contractors.
The Auditor-General has recommended forensic audits and strict control measures to prevent recurrence.
