By Ashiadey Dotse
A member of the Communication Team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ishaq Ibrahim, says anyone found guilty of misappropriating public funds as captured in the 2024 report of the Ghana Audit Service must face prosecution, regardless of their political affiliation.
His remarks came on GTV’s Current Agenda program after government revealed that thousands of tonnes of food supplied under its 2024 dry spell intervention cannot be accounted for following a special audit. Auditors found discrepancies in the supply of rice and maize purchased by the Government of Ghana to support farmers and vulnerable communities affected by the dry spell.
According to Lawyer Ibrahim, the findings contained in the Auditor-General’s report on financial mismanagement must not be treated as mere political debate but should lead to concrete legal action against persons who have been implicated.
Speaking on the program, he stressed that accountability must apply to everyone, including members of his own political party.
He said if credible evidence shows that any individual took public funds they were not entitled to, the law should take its course.
“For me, regardless of political colour, if it is proven that you committed a criminal offence, you must pay for it,” he said.
Lawyer Ibrahim explained that accountability in public office is important to ensure deterrence and restore public trust in state institutions.
He also cited concerns raised in the audit report, which indicated that government has paid for 34,000 metric tonnes of rice to help address the dry spell programme in 2024, out of which only 24,000 metric tonnes were distributed and 10,000 metric tonnes remain unaccounted for.
According to him, such cases should be investigated thoroughly to identify those responsible.
“If rice was given to someone to distribute and the distribution did not happen, it should not be difficult to identify the person responsible and prosecute them,” he added.
He further cautioned political actors against making exaggerated claims when in opposition, saying such statements often make it difficult to pursue legal action later when they assume power.
Lawyer Ibrahim said the focus should be on gathering solid evidence and ensuring that the appropriate legal procedures are followed.
He also called for professionalism and neutrality within the civil service, noting that public officials must support the implementation of government policies rather than frustrate them.
The lawyer expressed hope that the government and relevant institutions will act on the findings of the audit report to ensure accountability.
He noted that failure to prosecute wrongdoing could encourage further misuse of public funds.
Lawyer Ibrahim therefore urged authorities to take decisive steps to ensure that all persons found culpable in the 2024 Auditor-General’s financial mismanagement report are held accountable under the law.
