Calls for deeper scrutiny into Ghana’s public financial governance intensified over the weekend, as governance expert Dr. Eric Oduro Osae shifted focus to entrenched civil servants amid rising financial irregularities. His remarks follow revelations from the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, which exposed GH¢18.4 billion in irregularities, a staggering 109% increase from the previous year.
Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, Dr. Osae argued that the crisis goes far beyond political leadership. He pointed fingers at career technical officers, including finance officers and chief directors, for their role in perpetuating financial malpractice across government institutions.
“When you look at these figures, it tells you that there is something fundamentally wrong with our system. This is not the issue of politicians,” he said.
He stressed the need for balance in the fight against corruption, stating that civil servants, often dubbed the “permanent government”, play a central role in approving and executing financial transactions.
“No politician signs checks. The politicians give approval, but the checks are signed by the finance officers and the chief directors who manage this system. So I think we have to purge the system,” Dr. Osae noted.
According to him, while political leaders may change every election cycle, these entrenched officers often outlast administrations and pass on unethical practices to newcomers.
“The politicians have a maximum of eight years. But these are people who call themselves the permanent government. Every government will come and go. They are there, and they teach some of them how to do these things,” he added.
The 2024 Auditor-General’s report revealed that public boards, corporations, and statutory institutions had financial irregularities totalling GH¢18.4 billion — up from GH¢8.8 billion in 2023. A majority of the amount (GH¢15.57 billion) was deemed recoverable and stemmed from issues such as:
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Locked-up investments
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Unpaid taxes
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Outstanding loans
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Inter-agency debts
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Unretired imprest
The remaining GH¢2.84 billion was linked to administrative failures, including procurement breaches and procedural inefficiencies.
While the Auditor-General classified 84% of the irregularities as recoverable, Dr. Osae insists that recovery must not overshadow accountability.
“The Auditor-General said 84% is recoverable. He should be able to tell us how he is going to recover and the recoveries for the previous years. But I think that heads must roll,” he asserted.
Dr. Osae’s comments amplify growing public concerns over systemic failures in financial management, and his call to action has reignited debates on how best to strengthen accountability frameworks within Ghana’s civil service.
