Audit Service recovers GH₵18bn in public funds between 2022 and 2026

Auditor-General Dr. Pamela Graham has reported that the Audit Service successfully recovered more than GH₵18 billion in public funds between 2022 and 2026. This substantial recovery was achieved through the systematic identification of wrongful payments and financial irregularities across various state institutions. Speaking at the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) Conference, Dr. Graham highlighted the critical role of oversight in protecting national resources and ensuring that public money is utilized for its intended purposes during a period that spans the transition between the previous and current administrations. The performance in 2025 was particularly notable, with the service saving approximately GH₵11.7 billion in that year alone. These savings were primarily the result of detecting and blocking wrongful payments before they were fully executed. Dr. Graham explained that the Audit Service’s focus has shifted towards more rigorous monitoring and real-time intervention, which has proven highly effective in clawing back funds and preventing the misapplication of the country's financial assets. During her address, the Auditor-General urged public institutions to become more proactive in their response to audit findings. She emphasized that audit reports should not be viewed merely as documentation of past errors but as vital tools for improving future governance and financial controls. By treating these findings as a roadmap for institutional reform, Dr. Graham argued that state agencies could create more robust systems that naturally resist corruption and financial mismanagement. The successful recovery of these funds comes as a boost to national efforts regarding fiscal discipline and resource optimization. Dr. Graham concluded by calling for a culture of accountability to be embedded within the civil service. She maintained that while the Audit Service will continue its vigilant oversight, the long-term protection of the public purse depends on the commitment of every institution to implement sound financial policies and act decisively on the recommendations provided in the Auditor-General's reports.