Auditor-General Finds GH¢1.4 Billion Financial Irregularities In MDAs Auditing

The Auditor-General, Mr Johnson Akuamoah has discovered over GH¢1.4 billion financial infractions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country.

The Auditor’s report covered Tax; cash; payroll; Debts, Loans & Advances Irregularities; Stores/ Procurement; contracts; and rent irregularities.

These amounted to GH¢1,412,021,784.33.

“The overall financial impact of weaknesses and irregularities identified in the course of the audit amounted to GH¢1,412,021,784.33.”

Taxes had GHC1,247,530,110.94; cash GHC 58,471,599.00, Debts, Loans & Advances recorded GHc89,744,544.88 and payroll irregularities had GHC14,254,723.51.

In addition to that, stores/procurement irregularities were GHC321,650.00 with contract having GHC2,142,523.00 and GHc556,333.00 respectively.

According to the A-G, the Tax irregularities recorded the highest among the seven financial irregularities recorded in 2022.

“Tax irregularities formed 88.3 per cent of the total financial infractions reported. Included in this tax irregularity was GH¢327,636,068.00 due from 18 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) who defaulted in paying their rescheduled debt between January 2022 and December 2022. Also, an amount of GH¢361,677,320 was owed by 2,557 registered VAT traders during the year of assessment.”

It attributed this to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)’s failure to pursue the Oil Marketing Companies and registered VAT traders by applying the relevant measures and sanctions against defaulters.

Cash irregularities, it found, cover unapproved disbursements, unpresented payment vouchers, unaccounted revenue, unsupported payment vouchers, funds to bank not credited, non-lodgement of public funds, embezzlement of funds and unretired Imprest.