Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has called on public officials to account for every cedi entrusted to their care and reinforce financial management systems to prevent the persistent loss and misuse of state resources.
He cautioned that recovering misappropriated or unexplained public funds should not become a recurring annual exercise, insisting that government institutions must establish effective safeguards to prevent financial irregularities before they occur.
Dr Ato Forson made the remarks during an engagement on the Auditor General’s Report attended by regional ministers and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs).
Addressing the officials, the Finance Minister reminded them that their responsibility was to safeguard public resources on behalf of citizens rather than treat state funds as their personal property. He stressed that public office imposed an obligation to manage the nation’s finances responsibly and in the collective interest of Ghanaians.
“Public money does not belong to government officials; we are only the custodians of those resources,” he stated, underscoring the principle that the country’s financial resources belong to its people.
Dr Ato Forson urged the officials to pursue the recovery of all public funds that could lawfully be retrieved and ensure that every cedi placed under their supervision was properly accounted for.
“Let us recover every cedi that is recoverable. Let us account for every cedi that is entrusted to us as public officials,” he said.
The Finance Minister, however, maintained that genuine financial accountability must extend beyond retrieving money after losses have occurred. He argued that public institutions needed to prioritise preventive measures capable of identifying weaknesses, deterring financial misconduct and protecting government funds.
He therefore called for stronger internal controls, more effective financial oversight and improved management practices across public institutions to reduce the recurrence of financial irregularities.
Dr Ato Forson emphasised that the ultimate objective should be to establish a system in which public resources are managed transparently and responsibly, rather than repeatedly relying on investigations and recovery exercises to address avoidable losses.
“Let us build systems where recovery becomes the exception, not an annual ritual,” he stated.
His remarks placed renewed emphasis on the need for public officials to demonstrate financial discipline, strengthen institutional safeguards and ensure that resources allocated for national development are used for their intended purposes.
