‘Refund Our Money or Proceed to Nsawam’ – Mahama Warns Audit Offenders

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to public officials implicated in financial irregularities, declaring that those found responsible must either refund misappropriated state funds or face imprisonment.

Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, President Mahama expressed concern over the recurring losses recorded in the Auditor-General’s reports, describing them as a major drain on the national economy.

According to the President, the annual audit findings reveal persistent weaknesses in accountability and public financial management that must be tackled to protect taxpayers' money.

“Every year, you hear the Auditor General’s report, Ghana loses 12 billion cedis from misappropriations and things. The Chief Justice has graciously set up audit courts,” he stated.

President Mahama explained that the establishment of specialised audit courts is intended to ensure that individuals cited in audit reports face real consequences beyond appearances before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

He noted that government will strengthen cooperation between the Attorney-General’s Department and the Auditor-General’s Office to prosecute cases arising from audit findings and recover lost public funds.

“The Attorney General and the Auditor General are going to take out all the people who have misappropriated, and we’re putting them in front of those special courts to either refund our money or proceed to Nsawam and go and catch some rest there,” he said.

The President stressed that enforcing accountability through the courts would help deter financial misconduct, improve transparency, and promote responsible management of state resources.

His comments come amid increasing public scrutiny of financial irregularities highlighted in recent Auditor-General reports and growing calls for stronger enforcement of sanctions against public officials who misuse public funds.