Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has called for a renewed national commitment to recover, protect, and properly account for every cedi of public money. Speaking in Tamale at an engagement on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report, Dr. Forson emphasized that Ghana can no longer afford waste in the management of public resources. The event brought together regional and local government leaders to strengthen financial accountability and ensure public funds are used for their intended purposes.
The engagement, held under the theme “Recovering Every Cedi,” aimed to improve compliance and financial accountability across all levels of government. Dr. Forson stressed that every cedi has a specific purpose, such as buying medicine, repairing classrooms, or maintaining feeder roads. He warned that wasting a cedi means somebody, somewhere, loses a service. The Finance Minister urged leaders to move beyond conference slogans and make “Recovering Every Cedi” a practical discipline.
Dr. Forson emphasized that financial accountability is not only about compliance with audit rules but also about protecting services that directly affect citizens' lives. Public funds must translate into visible improvements in communities, including better schools, roads, and health facilities. He urged Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and Coordinating Directors to take audit findings seriously and recover funds where necessary.
The Finance Minister also called on leaders to close loopholes and strengthen internal controls to prevent future losses. He stated that the theme must become a way of working, involving collecting what is due, protecting what is collected, spending what is approved, accounting for what is spent, recovering what is owed, and preventing it from happening again. This approach aims to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively.
The meeting was attended by several Regional Ministers, including Ali Adolf John, Salisu Be-Awuribe Issifu, Ibrahim Tia, Puozuing Charles Lwanga, John Kwadwo Gyapong, and Akamugri Donatus Atanga. These leaders gathered to discuss the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report and strategies for improving financial accountability. The engagement reflects the government's efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public resource management.
Dr. Forson's call for action highlights the importance of responsible public resource management in Ghana. The country's financial situation demands that every cedi be used efficiently to provide essential services to citizens. By enforcing financial accountability and recovering public funds, the government can ensure that resources are allocated effectively to support national development.
The “Recovering Every Cedi” initiative is a significant step towards promoting financial discipline and accountability in Ghana's public sector. By implementing this approach, the government aims to minimize waste, maximize resource utilization, and ultimately improve the lives of citizens. The success of this initiative will depend on the commitment and collaboration of regional and local government leaders.
Key points
- Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson urges regional and local government leaders to enforce financial accountability.
- The engagement on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report aims to improve compliance and financial accountability.
- The “Recovering Every Cedi” initiative promotes financial discipline and accountability in Ghana's public sector.
