GH¢68bn Audit Findings: Prioritise Recovery of Looted Funds — Attah Issah Urges Government

The Member of Parliament for Sagnarigu, Attah Issah, is calling on the government to adopt strong measures to ensure that public funds unlawfully taken from the state are fully recovered.

His comments follow widespread discussions about the Auditor-General’s latest report on government arrears and outstanding payments as of 2024.

Speaking on The Point of View with journalist Bernard Avle on Channel One TV on Wednesday, March 11, Mr. Issah stressed that retrieving misappropriated funds should be a key priority even if it allows individuals to return the money without facing prosecution.

He noted that while legal sanctions act as a deterrent to corruption, equal attention must be given to reclaiming stolen public resources.

“Sometimes the justice system can deter wrongdoing, but we must also focus on recovering monies looted from the state,” he said.

Mr. Issah further suggested that creating lawful avenues for individuals to refund illegally acquired public funds could support national development efforts.

“If there are opportunities for people to return resources they wrongfully took from the state so the country can use them for development, I see nothing wrong with that,” he added.

The audit report also highlighted several irregularities, including the purchase of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice in 2024 that remain unaccounted for—raising fresh concerns about transparency in food distribution efforts intended to cushion communities affected by the dry season.

Additionally, the Ministry disclosed that out of GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted by contractors and suppliers, GH¢45.4 billion has been validated for payment. However, GH¢8.1 billion was rejected due to irregularities, while another GH¢13.3 billion requires further verification owing to missing documents, absent contracts, or lack of third-party confirmations.