Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is urging the government to institutionalise the annual publication of all arrears, outstanding claims, and commitments as part of efforts to tighten fiscal discipline.
The recommendation follows the Auditor-General’s rejection of GH¢8.1 billion in questionable payment claims submitted by various ministries, departments, and agencies for the 2024 financial year.
The rejected claims were flagged for irregularities, including missing documentation, fabricated invoices, duplicate submissions, and falsified store receipts.
Delivering closing remarks on the Committee’s consideration of the 2024 Auditor-General’s reports, PAC Chairperson Abena Osei Asare said greater transparency in the management of government liabilities was critical to preventing recurring financial infractions.
“The committee wishes to strongly emphasize that government must institutionalize the annual publication of all arrears, outstanding claims and commitments. Transparency in this area is critical. Regular disclosure will improve fiscal credibility, strengthen expenditure control, and reduce the need for recurring special audits of this nature,” she stated.
The Committee argued that without a consistent publication framework, gaps in reporting government obligations would continue to expose public finances to abuse and inefficiency, and that improved disclosure would also provide a clearer picture of the government’s true financial position at any given time.
