The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Davis Ansah Opoku, has proposed a series of reforms, including artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted auditing and a national contract monitoring portal, to strengthen accountability in Ghana’s public financial management system.
Mr Opoku said the reforms would shift Ghana’s audit regime from one that detects financial irregularities after they occur to one capable of identifying and addressing them in real time.
Speaking at a panel discussion at the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) at Burma Camp, the Mpraeso MP proposed the establishment of a National Public Contract Performance Portal to monitor public contracts from the award stage through to completion.
He also advocated the adoption of AI-assisted continuous auditing tools to detect financial irregularities early and enhance oversight of public expenditure.
In addition, Mr Opoku proposed the creation of a Public Accounts Implementation Office to ensure unresolved audit cases are automatically referred for further action if they remain unresolved after 18 months.
He argued that such a mechanism would eliminate unnecessary delays in enforcing accountability.
“You cannot lobby a calendar,” he said, stressing the importance of fixed timelines and automatic processes in addressing audit infractions.
Mr Opoku further stated that protecting public finances is not only an economic obligation but also a national security imperative.
He said stronger accountability systems are essential to safeguarding Ghana’s resources, improving transparency and restoring public confidence in the management of state funds.
