Auditor-General Dr Pamela Graham has disclosed that Ghana has recovered more than GH¢18 billion through the work of her office since 2022, with an additional GH¢11.7 billion saved from wrongful payments in 2025 alone.
According to her, the recoveries and savings demonstrate the financial impact of audit work on public sector accountability, and stress the need for government institutions to translate audit findings into lasting improvements in financial management.
Speaking at the African Organization of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) conference in Accra on Monday, November 2, Dr Graham said the figures highlight the importance of strengthening the relationship between public sector accounting, financial reporting and parliamentary oversight.
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She stated that the work of Supreme Audit Institutions should not be measured solely by the number of reports produced or irregularities identified, but also by the extent to which public resources are recovered, financial controls improved and future losses prevented.
She explained that financial audits must go beyond identifying historical wrongdoing to provide strategic information that informs future government policies, financial decisions and institutional controls.
The Auditor-General warned that without appropriate corrective measures, public institutions could continue recording similar financial weaknesses in successive audit cycles, even when they become increasingly skilled at explaining audit queries.
She urged Parliament and Public Accounts Committees across Africa to pay closer attention to the implementation of audit recommendations and the recovery of funds owed to the state.
The ultimate objective of accountability, Dr Graham said, must be to ensure that public institutions become more responsive, public resources are better managed, and citizens experience tangible improvements in their lives.
She called for stronger collaboration between Supreme Audit Institutions and parliamentary oversight bodies to ensure that audit findings produce measurable results.
“Every budget approved by Parliament represents a promise to citizens,” she said, adding that public sector accounting and financial reporting help determine whether that promise has been fulfilled.
Dr Graham maintained that audit provides assurance, parliamentary oversight demands accountability, while effective follow-up ensures that accountability produces results.
She called on African countries to transform public financial reporting and parliamentary oversight from mere compliance requirements into effective instruments of democratic accountability and sustainable development.