The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has issued a strong warning to individuals implicated in financial irregularities captured in Auditor-General’s reports, stating that those found responsible will be required to repay misappropriated state funds or face imprisonment.

Speaking during a meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, 2026, he expressed concern over the huge financial losses the country continues to record through misappropriation and poor financial management.

His comments come amid financial management within state institutions following recent sittings of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Which one of the cases involved officials of the Ho Municipal Assembly, who were directed to refund GH¢138,000 within 60 days after being cited for audit-related breaches.

According to him, the recurring findings in the Auditor-General’s reports reveals deep-rooted challenges in public sector accountability and the management of state resources.

“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 disclosed.

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President Mahama noted that the establishment of specialised audit courts marks a major step towards ensuring that audit infractions attract sanctions and are not merely discussed at parliamentary hearings.

He explained that individuals cited in audit reports will not only be summoned before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee but will also be prosecuted through the courts to 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 noted.

He further stated that the Attorney-General and Auditor-General will collaborate to pursue cases arising from audit findings and ensure that persons responsible for financial losses are held accountable.

ANAS/JE

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