Government contracts must have Finance Ministry’s approval - Ato Forson

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has instructed public officers to refrain from awarding government contracts without the explicit approval of the Ministry of Finance.

The Minister made these remarks during a recent meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Accra.

He emphasized that every contract must now receive formal commencement authorization, stating, “No commencement certificate, no procurement.”

“This is not business as usual. It is a decisive step to enforce fiscal discipline, ensure accountability, and put an end to the culture of financial recklessness in public administration,” Dr Forson said.

He further noted that this directive aligns with the newly amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025.

“This is not just a bureaucratic process—it is a legal requirement,” he stressed, warning that any violation of the directive would result in serious consequences.

He added that the Ministry of Finance would no longer bear the burden of fiscal indiscipline alone.

“If you are a principal spending officer and you violate this directive, you will be held personally accountable,” he stressed.

He urged all public officials to act with integrity and a strong sense of national duty, advising them not to subject the public to hardship through negligence or misuse of public resources.

“Restoring trust in public service starts with transparency, responsibility, and discipline in executing the national budget,” he added.