The Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Ghana has expressed concern over financial irregularities totalling GH¢5.2 billion captured in the 2025 audit report. The irregularities include GH¢4.8 billion in tax-related infractions. Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei-Asare, stated that the scale of the tax infractions required closer scrutiny to determine whether relevant tax authorities had taken steps to address the issues identified.
The PAC will demand explanations on the action taken to recover or remedy the identified irregularities. Abena Osei-Asare made these comments at the Committee's sitting on October 6, 2026. The Committee will engage the relevant tax authorities to establish how they have responded to the audit findings and what measures have been implemented to prevent further losses.
Beyond the figures contained in the latest report, the Committee also expressed concern about the recurrence of similar audit findings involving public institutions. Abena Osei-Asare stated that repeated infractions by the same institutions raised questions about whether recommendations from previous audits were being implemented effectively.
The PAC Chairperson noted that when an institution continues to be cited for the same weaknesses in its financial controls, the problem goes beyond the initial audit observation. She stressed that if the same institution is cited repeatedly for the same control failure, then the Committee is no longer dealing with just audit findings, but a failure to learn.
Persistent infractions suggest that some ministries, departments, and agencies are not doing enough to correct weaknesses identified in previous audits. Abena Osei-Asare added that if it happens repeatedly, then the Committee is no longer dealing with audit findings, but the ministries, departments, or agencies' failure to learn.
The Committee will adopt a more results-oriented approach in its engagements with institutions cited in audit reports. Institutions appearing before the PAC will be expected to demonstrate the specific changes they have made in response to previous audit findings. Abena Osei-Asare explained that auditees should be telling the Committee what changed or what has changed as a result of the audit.
The PAC's concerns over financial irregularities and repeated infractions by public institutions highlight the need for improved financial management and accountability in Ghana. The Committee's efforts to engage with tax authorities and institutions cited in audit reports aim to ensure that recommendations are implemented effectively and that financial irregularities are addressed.
Key points
- The Public Accounts Committee has expressed concern over GH¢5.2 billion financial irregularities in the 2025 audit report, including GH¢4.8 billion in tax-related infractions.
- The Committee will engage with tax authorities to establish how they have responded to audit findings and what measures have been implemented to prevent further losses.
- Repeated infractions by public institutions raise questions about whether recommendations from previous audits are being implemented effectively.
