By Amoako Kwame
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has called for immediate reforms to strengthen public financial management, urging the government to make the annual publication of all arrears, outstanding claims, and financial commitments a standard practice to enhance fiscal discipline and improve expenditure oversight.
The call follows the Auditor-General’s rejection of GH¢8.1 billion in disputed payment claims submitted by several ministries, departments, and agencies for the 2024 financial year. The claims were disallowed due to multiple irregularities, including missing supporting documents, fake invoices, duplicate submissions, and forged store receipts.
In her concluding remarks during the committee’s review of the 2024 Auditor-General’s reports, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei Asare, underscored the need for greater transparency in the management of government liabilities to help curb persistent financial irregularities.
She noted that establishing a formal system for disclosing arrears, outstanding claims, and commitments on a regular basis would enhance accountability and lessen the need for repeated audit interventions.
“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.
According to the committee, the absence of a consistent disclosure framework creates reporting gaps that leave public finances vulnerable to misuse and inefficiency.
