By Gloria Anderson
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has announced a firm directive to completely phase out manual cheques across all government institutions by the end of the first quarter of 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen public financial management and improve transparency.
Speaking at the stakeholder engagement workshop in Accra, the Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Kwasi Agyei, explained that many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) still operate accounts with commercial banks and continue to issue manual cheques, despite the availability of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
According to him, institutions operating through the Bank of Ghana have largely migrated onto GIFMIS, allowing payments to be processed electronically. However, those still using commercial bank accounts often process transactions outside the system, creating gaps in national financial reporting.
“We think it’s not good enough because we still have to manually capture these transactions when preparing quarterly and national accounts. From next year, we will withdraw all manual cheques to compel institutions to fully use GIFMIS for all payment transactions,” he said.
The meeting with commercial banks is part of efforts to secure their cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition. The CAGD says the shift will give government full visibility over all public accounts, whether held at the Bank of Ghana, commercial banks, or rural banks.
The Department has already issued a circular to all MDAs and plans to roll out workshops and sensitisation programmes to support the transition. While manual cheques will be eliminated, institutions facing unique operational challenges may be granted temporary dispensations.
The official stressed that the reform is crucial for improving the accuracy and completeness of Ghana’s financial reporting. “All institutions rely on government funds and are captured in the national budget. If they transact business outside the system, it becomes difficult to report comprehensively,” he noted.
The CAGD expressed confidence that institutions will comply, especially with manual cheques being discontinued. The transition, which has been under consideration for years, is now being fully enforced to ensure accountability and strengthen Ghana’s public financial management architecture.
