Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr. Thomas Ampem Darko, Deputy Minister of Finance on Thursday said achieving excellence in public financial management (PFM) must be underpinned by effective governance, accountability and transformative development.
He said the government has therefore taken bold corrective measures to reform and overhaul the country’s PFM architecture to lead the charge.
He indicated since assuming office, the government has enacted amendments to the PFM and the Procurement ACTs to accelerate implementation of an enhanced fiscal framework including an independent Fiscal Advisor Council.
Mr. Darko made these statements during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual Conference of the Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD), in Ho.
The two-day conference, taking place at the Ho Technical University auditorium, and bringing together a number of accountants and related professionals across the country, is under the theme, “Enhancing Public Financial Management Excellence”.
The Deputy Minister said within four months, the government has strengthened control on new spending commitments, launched a comprehensive audit of stock of arrears uncovered and operationalised a fiscal compliance framework.
He said government is committed to expand the scope and use of Ghana Electronic Procurement System, conduct a payroll audit and a functional review of selected MDAs, enhance risk management, update the centralised inventory of all ongoing and planned public investment projects.
Mr. Darko emphasised that central to these reforms firmly positions CAGD, a critical state institution mandated for ensuring effective transparent and accountable use of public funds.
He stated that the era of recklessness and the misuse of public funds was over, reminding the meeting that the full force of the law would be applied for PFM infractions.
He believed the conference would catalyse innovation, institutional renewal and strategic partnerships for effective economic and fiscal governance.
Mr. Kwasi Agyei, the Controller and Accountant General, said more than 4,000 salaries of government employees have been suspended in a review of payroll with revelations of inconsistencies in National Identification Authority numbers and in some instances questionable data credentials of some workers.
He has therefore reminded payroll validators of serious consequences for processing salary payments for unqualified individuals as outlined in PFM Regulation 90, 2019, and section 96 of the PFM ACT, 2016, ACT 921, which detail offences and penalties.
“We will apply the relevant sanctions rigorously,” he said, and entreated validators to always review the Electronic Salary Payment Vouchers (ESPV) to ensure all information was accurate before making inputs.
He enumerated measures to be adopted for enhanced payroll data security and integrity to include strong data encryption, access controls, multi-factor authentication, implement regular biometric identification and validation, conduct data audits, reconciliations and penetration testing and engagement of Internal Audit Agency.
Mr. Agyei urged staffers to uphold integrity and ethical conduct, transparency and accountability, professionalism and excellence, collaboration and stakeholder engagement and sustainability and public interest.
“Let us commit to improving public financial management not merely as a catchphrase but as a consistent standard of excellence. Together we will develop a CAGD that serves its purpose, earns the respect of citizens and stands as a foundation of good governance,” he said.
Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the Acting Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), acknowledged the inter-connectedness of the CAGD and GRA, likening them to unidentical twins from the same mother with one harnessing resources and the other spending them.
He urged the two institutions to meet the aspirations of the the government and citizens above the board, strive to make services available to clients, act with integrity, apply innovation and good values as well as increase public satisfaction.
Mr. James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister said excellence in PFM would translate to improved infrastructure, quality education, better healthcare, and sustainable development anchored on robust financial systems, transparency that is aligned with the needs of the people.
Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, who was represented by Togbe Adu Bobi IV, Afetorfia of Ho Bankoe reminded the participants that effective and ethical management of public resources is not just a professional obligation but a patriotic duty.
“Let us this conference ignite a renewed passion for building a Ghana, where fiscal responsibility, innovation and transparency are the hallmarks of governance,” he encouraged.
For More News And Analysis About Ghana Follow Africa-Press
