The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has revealed that 35 contractors engaged under the government’s Agenda 111 initiative received about $7.9 million in mobilisation funds but failed to move to site or carry out work corresponding to the payments.
The disclosure follows findings contained in the latest report by the Auditor-General of Ghana on arrears and payables as at the end of 2024, which uncovered several financial irregularities involving public funds.
The revelations have reignited concerns over accountability and the management of public resources within state institutions.
Commenting on the issue, the Deputy National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kamal-Deen Abdulai, urged the government to ensure that individuals implicated in the report were sanctioned irrespective of their political affiliation.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Channel One TV on Wednesday, March 11, he said public officials entrusted with state resources must be prepared to account for their actions.
“Whoever is given a mandate is in the driver’s seat and must act within the law. If anybody has not done the right thing in terms of figures or whatever, call them to answer. If the person refuses and you have sufficient evidence, go to court and retrieve the money for the state,” he said.
Mr Abdulai cautioned against turning the issue into political propaganda, stressing that the priority should be enforcing accountability and protecting public funds.
He also welcomed the decision by the Speaker of Parliament to refer the Auditor-General’s findings to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) for further scrutiny.
According to him, the NPP would closely monitor the work of the committee and its eventual recommendations.
“The law is clear. Whoever is supposed to pay money or refund some money must be charged and made to pay it to the state. Whether NPP or NDC, whoever is culpable must come forward to answer,” he added.
