Mahama to meet Chief Justice, Attorney General, others over misuse of public funds

President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025, with the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and other key institutional heads to address the persistent problem of financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds exposed in successive Auditor-General’s reports.

The meeting, to be held at the Jubilee House, will bring together leadership from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Audit Service, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). It will focus on designing a coordinated framework for prosecution, recovery, and preventive oversight to curb financial irregularities in the public sector.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Chairpersons of Governing Boards and Chief Executives of Public Services in Ho on Wednesday, October 8, President Mahama expressed frustration over the repetitive nature of financial infractions highlighted each year by the Auditor-General.

“I’ve been watching the Public Accounts Committee, and it’s so pathetic. Every year we gather, and the same reckless misuse of public funds is reported,” the President lamented.

He emphasized that Ghana cannot continue to lose billions of cedis annually through procurement breaches, unauthorized payments, and weak financial controls while development projects remain underfunded. According to him, if even a fraction of the wasted funds were retrieved and redirected, it would significantly improve service delivery in education, health, and infrastructure.

“Until people know they will be held responsible for misusing public resources, nothing will change,” he cautioned.

President Mahama underscored the need for a fast-track legal mechanism to prosecute offenders identified in audit reports, noting that lengthy and politically influenced investigations often lead to impunity. He said part of the Thursday discussions will explore how to strengthen inter-agency collaboration between the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Department, and accountability institutions to ensure swift legal action.

He also criticized the weak enforcement of constitutional provisions under Article 187(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires Parliament to establish a committee to monitor actions taken on the Auditor-General’s recommendations. The President said although most ministries and agencies have Audit Report Implementation Committees (ARICs), these bodies have failed to ensure compliance and accountability.

“We need a complete change in attitude. It’s not enough to compile reports — there must be consequences. The Attorney General and the courts must ensure that those who misuse state resources face justice swiftly,” Mahama insisted.

The upcoming meeting is expected to adopt a multi-pronged strategy, including:

• Establishing a Special Financial Accountability Court to expedite trials of public financial crimes.

• Empowering the Attorney General’s Office to file automatic surcharge and disallowance applications following Auditor-General findings.

• Reviewing laws to ensure the personal liability of public officials involved in financial irregularities.

• Enhancing digital audit systems across public institutions to reduce human interference.

President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and efficient public sector governance. He urged heads of institutions to prioritize transparency, prudent financial management, and ethical leadership in their operations.

“Accountability is not about politics; it’s about protecting the people’s money. Every cedi lost to corruption is a classroom not built, a hospital not completed, and a job not created,” he concluded.

The meeting’s outcomes are expected to form part of a new National Anti-Corruption and Accountability Framework to be presented to Cabinet later this month.