Ato Forson Demands Accountability for Every Cedi of Public Money

ACCRA, Ghana — Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has called on public officials to strengthen accountability in the management of state resources, insisting that public funds belong to the people of Ghana and not the officials entrusted with their administration.

Speaking at an engagement with regional ministers and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report, Dr Forson urged public officeholders to account for every cedi placed in their care.

He stressed that public officials serve as custodians of national resources and have a responsibility to ensure that government funds are managed transparently, prudently and in the public interest.

According to the minister, effective public financial management must go beyond recovering money after irregularities have occurred. He called for stronger systems to prevent financial losses and ensure that public resources are used for their intended purposes.

Dr Forson also urged officials to pursue the recovery of all recoverable public funds and improve the processes through which government expenditure is monitored and accounted for.

The minister’s remarks place renewed emphasis on the responsibility of public institutions to protect taxpayers’ money and ensure that state resources deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

Public funds support essential services and infrastructure, including healthcare, education, sanitation, roads and local development projects. Weak financial controls, waste and the mismanagement of state resources can therefore affect the quality of services available to communities.

The engagement on the Auditor-General’s Report was aimed at strengthening financial accountability and encouraging public officials to address audit findings and improve compliance with public financial management requirements.

Dr Forson’s message was clear: accountability should be a routine responsibility of public administration rather than an exercise undertaken only when financial irregularities are identified.

The call also highlights the importance of ensuring that public expenditure translates into measurable improvements in the lives of Ghanaians.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of such commitments will depend on how consistently public institutions enforce financial controls, address audit findings, recover funds where necessary and prevent similar irregularities from recurring.