Thomas Nyarko Ampem rejects GH₵8.1bn in fraudulent government claims

Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has disclosed that the government rejected GH₵8.1 billion in claims following a rigorous audit of state expenditures. Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Ghana, the Minister explained that the decision was taken to safeguard the public purse against irregularities identified during the vetting process. The rejected claims represent a significant intervention to prevent the loss of state resources that would have otherwise been paid out to various contractors and service providers based on fraudulent or erroneous documentation.

The audit process uncovered several systemic discrepancies that led to the disqualification of these claims. According to the Deputy Minister, the issues included duplicate submissions, where the same service was billed multiple times, and the use of falsified receipts to justify expenditures. Furthermore, the audit identified numerous instances where payments were being sought for projects and tasks that remained unfinished or had not been started at all. This discovery highlights the critical role of internal auditing in identifying financial leakages before they impact the national budget.

Highlighting the importance of the auditing profession, Thomas Nyarko Ampem called for even stronger internal controls across all government agencies and departments. He emphasized that the rejection of these GH₵8.1 billion in claims is part of a broader strategy by the Mahama administration to ensure transparency and accountability in public financial management. By empowering internal auditors to act as the first line of defense, the government aims to create a more resilient system that deters fraudulent activities and ensures that every cedi of public money is used for its intended purpose.

The 25th anniversary of the IIA Ghana provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the progress made in the auditing sector and the challenges that remain. The Deputy Minister’s revelation serves as a stern warning to those attempting to defraud the state, signaling that the current administration will maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward financial malpractice. Moving forward, the Ministry of Finance expects to integrate more robust digital tools and oversight mechanisms to further streamline the auditing process and prevent similar fraudulent claims from surfacing in the future.