Labour Consultant, Seth Abloso has called for greater accountability within Ghana’s public institutions following revelations in the Auditor General’s 2024 report that flagged GH¢162 million in overstated claims by state agencies.
Speaking in an interview on Bryt Adekyee Mu Nsem with Kwamina Sam Biney on Bryt FM, Mr. Abloso reacted to the Deputy Finance Minister’s presentation in Parliament on the Auditor General’s findings regarding financial irregularities within Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The Deputy Finance Minister disclosed in Parliament that the Auditor General’s report identified GH¢162 million in overstated claims by several state institutions, raising concerns about oversight and responsibility within the public sector.
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Abloso said the responsibility for preventing such financial irregularities largely lies with the heads of the various institutions involved.
According to him, leaders of state agencies, including institutions such as the Ghana Highways Authority and other public bodies, must be held accountable for activities within their organisations.
He explained that although ministers may not directly sign cheques, they are usually aware of the financial resources available to their ministries, the projects being executed and the budgets allocated to those projects.
He further alleged that in some cases, political office holders put pressure on civil servants to find ways to raise money for them.
“In certain situations, some ministers may tell civil servants to find money for activities such as party congresses or elections and ask them to look for a way to generate the funds,” he said.
He noted that under such pressure, some civil servants may resort to fictitious transactions or inflated claims in order to meet those demands.
“In some cases, the money is taken and later the claim is made that it was not enough,” he added.
He also revealed that he once served on a committee where a civil servant broke down in tears while explaining that his minister was pressuring him to raise money for him.
He stressed that the Auditor General’s report submitted to Parliament must not be ignored, urging authorities to take decisive action against persons found culpable.
According to him, Ghana must begin to demonstrate that corruption carries consequences, noting that many audit reports highlighting financial irregularities are often released but not treated with the seriousness they deserve.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Tamara Owusu Ansah
