President Mahama to meet CJ, AG, others over misuse of public funds

President John Dramani Mahama will on Thursday, October 9, meet with the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and other key stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the repeated mismanagement of public funds highlighted in Auditor-General reports.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Chairpersons of Governing Boards and Chief Executives of Public Services in Ho on Wednesday, October 8, Mahama expressed deep concern over the scale of financial irregularities uncovered each year.

“I’ve been watching the Public Accounts Committee, and it’s so pathetic. Every year we gather, and the same reckless misuse of public funds is reported,” he said.

He stressed the need for a fast-track legal process to hold accountable those found guilty of financial misconduct, suggesting that without real consequences, the cycle of misappropriation will continue.

According to President Mahama, the Auditor-General’s reports have revealed infractions which he believes could have significantly supported national development if properly utilised.

President Mahama also pointed to the lack of implementation of constitutional provisions that require Parliament to establish a committee to follow up on the Auditor-General’s findings. He noted that existing structures, such as Audit Report Implementation Committees (ARICs), are largely ineffective.

“Until people know they will be held responsible for misusing public resources, nothing will change,” he added.

The upcoming meeting is expected to propose concrete steps to ensure accountability and create a stronger deterrent against the misuse of public funds.