Our rotten system needs fixing

A certain narrative has characterised the management of Ghana’s public funds, where the technocrats, politicians and the civil servants feel that it is their birthright to dissipate, mismanage, misapply and ultimately loot the funds under their care.

The trend is becoming alarming because the figures are in the range of hundreds of millions of Ghana cedis to billions, and what is even more scary is the clear disregard for public financial management laws and regulations.

But that is not all, these unscrupulous persons have no fear of being caught.

They have no fear of being prosecuted when they are caught because they always find a way around the court.

And as for we the citizens, we have been reduced to mere spectators of financial crime reality shows who only rant and rave on the declaration of the discovery of fresh scandals involving huge sums of money.

Clearly, this speaks volumes about the moral fibre of this country. Indeed, it is broken.

And the beat goes on. This week, presenting the findings of the Auditor-General’s report on Arrears and Payables as of the end of 2024 to Parliament yesterday, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, revealed that out of GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted for verification, only GH¢45.4 billion was deemed valid for payment.

This means that the special audit into the country’s unpaid debts uncovered a staggering GH¢21.35 billion in suspicious, duplicated and fictitious claims on the state coffers, revealing a "systemic plunder" of the public purse.

The uncovered irregularities are a damning indictment of our public sector's lack of transparency and accountability.

Duplicate payment certificates, inflated invoices and falsified stores receipts have become tools for unscrupulous individuals to siphon resources meant for national development.

The fictitious GH¢89.4 million debt under the Ministry of Trade and Industry's One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative is a stark example of this rot.

The government's response is encouraging.

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has given an assurance that those involved would face justice, and that the Attorney-General's Department was working to prosecute offenders. This decisive action is a crucial step towards rebuilding trust in our institutions.

The audit, conducted by the Ghana Audit Service in partnership with EY and PwC, scrutinised GH¢68.7 billion in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), invoices and Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) owed to contractors and suppliers.

The findings are alarming: GH¢8.1 billion was outrightly rejected due to irregularities, while GH¢13.3 billion remains under scrutiny pending adequate documentation.

The remaining GH¢21.35 billion is under investigation for potential prosecution.

The Daily Graphic hopes we shall witness a decisive break from the past, where there will be a proper reset of public financial management.

We support the Finance Minister’s directive that no payment would be made without full verification, no commitment would be entered into without budgetary allocation, and no officer, regardless of rank, would be shielded from accountability.

And we find it heartwarming to know that the government’s decision to halt payments in January 2025 had saved the state from losing an additional GH¢1 billion in fraudulent Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs).

As a nation we must collectively refuse to accept this rotten system.

It is so unfair to ask Ghanaians to pay for fraud committed by some unpatriotic people.

This shocking revelation should serve as a wake-up call for all Ghanaians, highlighting the deep-seated corruption and mismanagement that has plagued our nation's public financial management system.

However, more needs to be done.

The government must implement comprehensive civil service reform, strengthen audit capacity and ensure transparency in public financial management.

Citizens and stakeholders must demand accountability from their leaders, insisting on reforms that prevent future abuses.

Ghana deserves better. Our nation's resources should benefit all citizens, not just a corrupt few.

Let's work together to reset our public financial management system, ensuring transparency, accountability and justice for all.