Financial irregularities recorded across five key public sectors in Ghana fell by 62.9 percent in 2025, declining from approximately GH¢20.72 billion in 2024 to GH¢7.69 billion.
Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem disclosed the figures during an engagement with Chief Directors, Chief Executive Officers and heads of institutions covered by the 2025 Auditor-General’s Reports.
The reduction represents an estimated GH¢13.03 billion decrease in reported financial irregularities and surpassed the government’s target of cutting such irregularities by 50 percent in 2025.
Government Exceeds Financial Irregularities Reduction Target
According to Mr Nyarko Ampem, the 62.9 percent reduction exceeded the government’s target by 12.9 percentage points, describing the achievement as a significant improvement in public financial management.
The Deputy Finance Minister attributed the progress to increased attention to financial controls, accountability and prudent management of public funds.
He stressed that stronger internal controls and improved oversight can produce measurable results in reducing financial irregularities across government institutions.
Five Public Sectors Covered by Auditor-General’s Reports
The 2025 Auditor-General’s Reports examined financial activities across five major areas of Ghana’s public sector.
These include ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs); metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs); the District Assemblies Common Fund; public boards and state-owned enterprises; and public universities and colleges of education.
The reduction in irregularities across these sectors is being viewed as an important development in Ghana’s efforts to improve public sector accountability and financial governance.
Focus on Public Financial Management and Accountability
The engagement with heads of public institutions also focused on the findings contained in the Auditor-General’s reports and the responsibility of institutional leaders to address weaknesses identified during the audits.
Heads of covered institutions were encouraged to strengthen financial compliance, internal controls and accountability mechanisms to prevent similar irregularities from recurring.
The government maintains that sustained improvements in public financial management are essential for protecting taxpayers’ money, improving efficiency and ensuring that public resources are used for their intended purposes.
GH¢7.69 Billion in Irregularities Still Reported
Despite the significant decline, the GH¢7.69 billion recorded in 2025 remains a substantial amount of financial irregularities identified across the five sectors covered by the Auditor-General’s reports.
The latest figures therefore highlight both the progress made in controlling public financial irregularities and the need for continued reforms to strengthen government financial management, audit compliance, transparency and accountability in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com