Contrary to President Akufo-pledge Addo’s to safeguard the public coffers, the state’s resources have rather been squandered under his administration, according to former President John Dramani Mahama.
The 2020 NDC candidate claims that the failure of President Akufo-Addo to combat corruption is the reason Ghana has lost so much money during his administration.
He lamented the situation and voiced concerns about the health of the economy when speaking to a group of chiefs and people during the Asogli Yam Festival in the Volta Region in 2022.
“This government, the NPP government has completely lost control of the fight against corruption. President Akufo-Addo in his inaugural address promised to protect the public purse.
Today even, that public purse cannot be found. The revelations in the Auditor-General’s report for 2021 is simply a microcosm of the real extent of the seeming institutionalisation of corruption under this administration,” John Mahama said.
“As I said recently, I want to assure all Ghanaians that the next NDC administration, as I’ve recently said will revisit the matter of article 71 emoluments, especially the issue of ex-gratia payments and the size of government to cut down on expenditure as a way of protecting our scarce resources”, he added.
Following a report by the Auditor-General that showed how the state continues to lose significant sums of money as a result of corruption and other financial misdeeds, Mr. Mahama made his remarks.
In its most recent report for the fiscal year 2021 that was given to parliament, the Auditor-General identified financial irregularities totalling 17.4 billion.
Following an investigation of the accounts of at least 101 institutions, this marks a 36% increase over that of 2020.
Similar audits of banks done in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 revealed inaccuracies of $12 billion, $3 billion, 5.4 billion, and $12.8 billion, respectively.
Numerous people are urging the Auditor-General to punish those involved in its most recent findings, including individuals and institutions, in the meanwhile.
The interested parties believe that this will dissuade others in the future.
For these, the Auditor-General is required by law to surcharge those responsible in addition to reporting the financial violations.
Akua Karle Okyere
Akua Karle Okyere is a lifestyle blogger at The Vocal Ghanaian and also a PR technician. She enjoys researching on travels and tours and writing fictional stories in her leisure time.