John Dramani Mahama has warned that individuals implicated in financial irregularities identified in the Auditor-General’s reports will be forced to refund misappropriated state funds or face imprisonment.
Speaking during a diaspora town hall meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, President Mahama expressed concern over the continuous financial losses recorded in successive audit reports, describing the situation as a major burden on Ghana’s economy.
According to him, the recurring findings highlight deep-rooted weaknesses in public financial management and accountability systems.
“Every year, you hear the Auditor General’s report, Ghana loses 12 billion cedis from misappropriations and things. The chief justice has graciously set up audit courts,” he stated.
The President explained that the newly established specialised audit courts would ensure that persons cited for financial infractions face real legal consequences beyond appearances before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
He indicated that individuals accused of misappropriating public funds would be prosecuted and compelled to repay the money.
“The Attorney General and the Auditor General are going to take out all the people who have misappropriated, and we’re putting them in front of those special courts to either refund our money or proceed to NSAWAM and go and catch some rest there,” he added.
President Mahama said the Attorney-General’s Department and the Auditor-General’s Department would collaborate closely in pursuing cases arising from audit findings and recovering lost state resources.
His remarks come amid renewed national focus on accountability and public sector financial management following recent sittings of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
One of the recent cases involved officials of the Ho Municipal Assembly, who were directed to refund GH¢138,000 within 60 days over audit infractions.
