Finance Ministry Dismisses Claims of Undisclosed Payments for MDA Contracts in GH¢68 Billion Arrears Audit
The Ministry of Finance has firmly dismissed claims that it made payments for contracts on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) without full disclosure, following concerns raised in the GH¢68 billion arrears audit report.
The Ministry emphasised that all relevant stakeholders, including the MDAs and the Bank of Ghana, were fully informed about the payments and the bond issuances used to settle government arrears.
The issue surfaced during a hearing by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Thursday, April 2, where officials addressed allegations that some payments were made without the knowledge of the beneficiary ministries.
Emmanuel Mammara, Director of Finance at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, told the committee that repeated attempts to obtain details from the Finance Ministry were unsuccessful. He claimed that certain contractors, including those owed over GH¢2 million, were paid without his ministry’s knowledge and were not listed in its submitted payment records.
The Finance Ministry, however, strongly refuted these claims, stating that the Ministry of Roads and Highways and other stakeholders were copied on all relevant communications.
Documentation presented by the Ministry shows that multiple institutions were included in correspondence regarding bond issuances used to settle arrears. The Ministry insisted that no payments were made in secrecy and that due process was strictly followed.
This clarification comes amid heightened scrutiny of public financial management and the handling of government arrears, with the PAC continuing to examine the audit findings for transparency and accountability.
Source: Public Accounts Committee hearing and statement from the Ministry of Finance (April 2, 2026)
