Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the finance minister, revealed a startling attempt to push through GH¢13 billion in dubious payments, which were only stopped after he mandated a thorough audit of all unresolved claims.
Hours after the 2026 Budget was presented, he revealed on Joy News’ PM Express that auditors had found layers of recycled claims, forged documentation, and outright fraudulent invoices that had previously passed several approval stages.
“The one thing that the auditors are certain about is that they have rejected ¢10 billion and said that they don’t pay because the liabilities, some are recycled,” he said.
He added that “some are Interim Payment Certificate (IPCs) for work done already, and they are recycling it for the state to pay. Some have been falsified store receipts advice and they are asking the state to pay, and some are fictitious.”
Dr Forson said the audit report, which will be released next week, is “damning” and “troubling.” He recalled the moment he halted all payments when he assumed office.
“I said to my staff at the ministry that, look, when I got in, I said stop all the payments. Let’s do the audit before anything goes,” he said.
His team objected to the choice, claiming that some payments had already been made in full. However, Dr. Forson remained unwavering.
“Some of them felt that as for that one, it’s been processed and it’s legitimate. I said ‘Stop it’. My instinct told me to stop it. Let’s subject it to an audit.”
That decision, he revealed, exposed a massive problem. “You know how much was there? 13 billion,” he said.
“That GH¢13 billion, the Auditor General has validated. GH¢12 billion. The GH¢1 billion left, the Auditor General said, don’t pay. They are fictitious, so somebody just concocted them.”
He stressed how close Ghana came to losing the money.
“These are invoices, interim payment certificates, that have gone through all the process and are only waiting at the Auditor General’s office, at the Controller and Accountant-General’s office, and Bank of Ghana, just waiting for cash for payment. If not for that audit, Ghana would have lost that one,” he said.
Dr Forson said those responsible will be exposed. “Who are those responsible for this? Yes, the names are there. The audit will be out, and so they will publish not only their names, but the companies and all those behind it.”
He added that he chose not to announce the findings during the budget presentation because “I don’t want it to overshadow the excellent policies in the budget.”
He confirmed that “the Auditor General will present the document and then the Attorney General will have to take over.”
NKONKONSA.com
