The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has raised concerns over the release of GH¢350 million for the national flood response, accusing the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of undermining constitutional processes by directing the payment despite an ongoing court matter involving the Contingency Fund.
Addressing journalists at Parliament House on Wednesday, Deputy Minority Leader Madam Patricia Appiagyei claimed that a directive issued by the Attorney-General to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) allowed the release of funds despite existing garnishee proceedings against the fund.
The Asokwa Member of Parliament said the Attorney-General’s action amounted to an attempt to override a court process through an administrative directive.
She cited a July 1, 2026 letter from the Attorney-General to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana titled “Release of Funds from the Contingency Fund for the National Emergency Flood Response Programme,” in which she said the AG acknowledged the existence of the garnishee proceedings.
According to Madam Appiagyei, the Attorney-General stated that although the Contingency Fund was subject to legal proceedings, the circumstances surrounding the flood disaster warranted the immediate release of the approved funds.
She argued that the appropriate legal route would have been for the Attorney-General to seek relief from the court rather than instructing another state institution to proceed despite the attachment.
“The emergency demanded speed before a judge, not a coup against the court’s process,” she said.
The Minority also questioned whether the money was actually withdrawn from the Contingency Fund as approved by Parliament or from another public account.
Madam Appiagyei said if the funds were taken from an alternative account, Parliament’s approval may not have been properly implemented, raising concerns about parliamentary control over public finances.
“If the Contingency Fund remained under attachment, then the emergency disbursement could only have proceeded through another public account. If that is what occurred, then Parliament was never asked to approve that alternative source,” she stated.
The Caucus accused the Ministry of Finance of failing to provide accurate information by announcing that the funds had been released from the Contingency Fund without disclosing whether another account was used.
The Minority listed what it described as constitutional breaches, including violations of the principles of the rule of law, parliamentary oversight of public funds, and the Attorney-General’s responsibility as the government’s chief legal adviser.
The group has demanded that the Attorney-General and the Finance Minister appear before Parliament to provide documents relating to the garnishee order, the July 1 directive, and all correspondence surrounding the transaction.
It is also calling on the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to clarify publicly which account was debited and whether the central bank had raised concerns over the directive.
Additionally, the Minority is demanding a special audit by the Auditor-General into the entire transaction and has called for the resignation or removal of the Attorney-General if he fails to address the concerns raised.
Madam Appiagyei warned that the Minority could pursue further parliamentary action, including a full inquiry and possible legal action at the Supreme Court under relevant constitutional provisions.
The government is yet to officially respond to the allegations.
