Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has called on public officials across Ghana to strengthen financial accountability, improve public financial management and ensure that every cedi entrusted to them is properly accounted for.
The Finance Minister stressed the need for effective systems to protect public funds, insisting that the recovery of misused or unaccounted-for state resources should become an exception rather than a routine exercise conducted every year.
Dr Ato Forson made the remarks during an engagement on the Auditor-General’s Report, which brought together regional ministers and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs).
Ato Forson Reminds Public Officials of Their Responsibility
Addressing the officials, Dr Ato Forson emphasised that government appointees and public servants are custodians of Ghana’s resources, not their owners. He explained that public funds belong to the people and must therefore be managed transparently and responsibly in the national interest.
“Public money does not belong to government officials; we are only the custodians of those resources,” he said.
He noted that public officials have a duty to ensure that state funds are used for their intended purposes and that financial transactions are properly documented to promote transparency and accountability in government institutions.
The minister urged all officials responsible for managing public finances to take their obligations seriously and ensure that public resources deliver meaningful benefits to citizens.
Finance Minister Calls for Recovery of Unaccounted Public Funds
Dr Ato Forson further called for the recovery of all public funds that can legally and practically be retrieved, stressing that every cedi entrusted to public officials must be accounted for.
“Let us recover every cedi that is recoverable. Let us account for every cedi that is entrusted to us as public officials,” he said.
His remarks highlight the importance of enforcing the recommendations of the Auditor-General’s Report, strengthening financial oversight and addressing irregularities identified in the management of public funds.
Effective implementation of audit recommendations, he indicated, is essential to improving public sector accountability and ensuring that government resources are protected from waste, misuse and financial irregularities.
Ato Forson Advocates Stronger Public Financial Management Systems
Beyond recovering missing or misused funds, the Finance Minister said Ghana must develop stronger financial management systems that prevent irregularities from occurring in the first place.
He argued that public institutions should prioritise preventive measures, improve internal controls and establish effective monitoring mechanisms to safeguard state resources.
“Let us build systems where recovery becomes the exception, not an annual ritual,” he said.
The minister’s call underscores the need for stronger public financial management, transparent government spending and more effective accountability mechanisms across ministries, departments, agencies and local government authorities.
Strengthening these systems could help reduce recurring audit irregularities, improve the efficient use of public funds and build public confidence in government institutions.
Accountability Key to Protecting Ghana’s Public Resources
The engagement on the Auditor-General’s Report reinforces the importance of responsible financial administration among regional ministers and MMDCEs, who play significant roles in implementing government programmes and managing resources at the local level.
Ensuring that public officials account for state funds remains an important part of promoting good governance, reducing financial waste and improving the delivery of essential public services.
Dr Ato Forson’s message is clear: public officials must take responsibility for every cedi under their control while working to establish systems that prevent financial irregularities rather than repeatedly recovering funds after problems have occurred.
Source: newsthemegh.com