Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has reminded public officials that state funds belong to the people of Ghana and must be managed with transparency, discipline and accountability.
According to him, individuals entrusted with public resources are only custodians and must ensure that every cedi is properly accounted for and used for its intended purpose.
Dr Forson made the remarks during an engagement on the Auditor-General’s Report, which brought together regional ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
“Public money does not belong to government officials, we are only the custodians of those resources,” he stated.
“Those resources belong to the people of Ghana: our constituents, our citizens.”
The Finance Minister expressed concern over the recurring financial irregularities highlighted in the Auditor-General’s reports, stressing the need for stronger measures to prevent the misuse of public funds.
Over the years, audit reports have uncovered several financial management challenges within public institutions, including procurement breaches, unsupported payments, uncollected revenue and failures to comply with established financial regulations.
Dr Forson emphasised that public institutions must go beyond identifying financial irregularities and take practical steps to recover funds while strengthening systems to prevent future losses.
“So let us recover every cedi that is recoverable. Let us account for every cedi that is entrusted to us as public officials,” he urged.
He further explained that although recovering misused funds is necessary, the government’s ultimate goal should be to establish effective financial management systems that prevent such irregularities from occurring.
“But above all, let us build systems where recovery becomes the exception, not an annual ritual,” he added.
His remarks highlight the importance of ensuring that public resources are protected, particularly at the local government level, where regional ministers and MMDCEs play significant roles in overseeing development projects, revenue collection and public expenditure.
Weak financial controls and poor supervision can result in the loss of resources that could otherwise support essential services such as healthcare, education, roads and other development projects.
Strengthening internal auditing, improving procurement procedures and ensuring strict compliance with financial regulations are therefore critical to addressing these challenges.
The Finance Minister’s call also comes at a time when government continues to pursue measures aimed at improving revenue mobilisation, managing public debt and creating more financial space for national development.
Ensuring that existing public funds are properly managed is expected to strengthen public confidence in government institutions and encourage greater trust in the country’s financial management system.
Dr Forson’s message places renewed responsibility on public officeholders to demonstrate integrity and accountability in the management of state resources.
Beyond recovering misused funds, the focus must also be on preventing financial irregularities, enforcing audit recommendations and ensuring that officials who breach financial regulations are held accountable.
The Finance Minister maintained that public officials must always remember that their authority to manage state resources does not make them owners of those funds.
Rather, they have a responsibility to protect public money and ensure that it is used to improve the lives of Ghanaians.
