The Auditor-General has rejected payment claims totaling GH₵12.16 billion submitted by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the
The Auditor-General has rejected payment claims totaling GH₵12.16 billion submitted by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country, citing the absence of proper documentation, lack of value-for-money evidence, and other serious procedural irregularities.
According to the report, the massive disallowance affects some of the biggest spending entities in government, with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Roads and Highways accounting for nearly 80% of the rejected claims.
The Energy Ministry alone had claims amounting to GH₵5.01 billion (41.2%) rejected, while the Roads and Highways Ministry followed closely with GH₵4.73 billion (38.9%).
The Auditor-General’s Department explained that the rejection is part of its ongoing expenditure verification exercise aimed at enforcing fiscal discipline and ensuring public funds are properly accounted for.
A verification window has been opened until November 7, 2025, to allow affected MDAs and contractors to present supporting evidence for review. Any claim that fails to meet the criteria by the deadline will be permanently disallowed.
Other ministries that had their claims rejected include the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs with GH₵408.3 million (3.36%), the Health Ministry with GH₵406.6 million (3.34%), and the Ministry of Defence, which recorded GH₵317.2 million (2.61%) in disallowed claims.
The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations had GH₵263.2 million (2.16%) rejected, while the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry followed with GH₵225.9 million (1.86%).
Others include the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources (GH₵197.8 million), Food and Agriculture (GH₵154.1 million), and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (GH₵90.5 million).
Even smaller allocations to entities like the Judicial Service (GH₵51.2 million), Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (GH₵33.1 million), and the Office of Government Machinery (GH₵24 million) were not spared.
The Ministry of Education had just GH₵952,825 rejected, while the Agenda 111 Secretariat and the Legal Aid Commission recorded the least rejections of GH₵451,519 and GH₵300,000 respectively.
The disallowances come amid growing public concern over fiscal leakages, weak internal controls, and inflated government contracts.
Over the years, the Auditor-General’s annual reports have highlighted persistent financial irregularities, including unsubstantiated payments, procurement breaches, and contract variations.
Under Ghana’s Public Financial Management Act (Act 921) and Article 187(7)(b) of the 1992 Constitution, the Auditor-General is empowered to disallow and surcharge any expenditure deemed unlawful or without sufficient justification.
This mandate is part of ongoing efforts to ensure accountability, transparency, and prudence in the use of public funds.
This latest audit action is being viewed as a strong signal to public officials and contractors that the days of unverified and politically influenced payments are over.
The Auditor-General has urged all MDAs to take the verification process seriously and provide evidence of due process in the execution of contracts and claims submitted for payment.
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