Publish arrears yearly or risk fiscal leakage — PAC tells govt

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has called for urgent reforms in public financial management, urging the government to institutionalise the annual publication of all arrears, outstanding claims, and commitments as part of efforts to tighten fiscal discipline and improve expenditure controls.

The recommendation comes in the wake of 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 a range of irregularities, including missing documentation, fabricated invoices, duplicate submissions, and falsified store receipts.

In her closing remarks on the Committee’s consideration of the 2024 Auditor-General’s reports, Chairperson of the PAC, Abena Osei Asare, stressed that greater transparency in the management of government liabilities is critical to preventing recurring financial infractions.

She said institutionalising a structured disclosure system would strengthen accountability and reduce the burden of repeated audit interventions.

“The committee wishes to strongly emphasize that the 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 argues that without a consistent publication framework, gaps in reporting government obligations will continue to expose public finances to abuse and inefficiencies.

PAC maintains that improved transparency in arrears and commitments would not only enhance fiscal credibility but also provide a clearer picture of the government’s true financial position at any point in time.

Source: citinewsroom.com