Public money belongs to Ghanaians, not officials — Finance Minister Ato Forson charges MMDCEs

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has urged public officials to account for every cedi entrusted to them, stressing the need to strengthen financial management systems so that the recovery of misused public funds becomes an exception rather than a recurring annual exercise.

He made the call during an engagement on the Auditor-General’s Report attended by regional ministers and metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs).

Dr. Forson emphasised that public officials are custodians of the nation’s resources and must manage them responsibly in the interest of the citizens who ultimately own those funds.

“Public money does not belong to government officials; we are only the custodians of those resources,” he said.

“Those resources belong to the people of Ghana: Our constituents, our citizens!”

The Finance Minister said public office comes with a responsibility to ensure that state resources are used for their intended purposes and that every expenditure can be properly accounted for.

Dr. Forson urged government officials to pursue the recovery of all public funds identified as recoverable, insisting that accountability must be reflected in concrete action.

He maintained that officials responsible for managing public finances must ensure that any money owed to the state is recovered in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures.

“So let us recover every cedi that is recoverable! Let us account for every cedi that is entrusted to us as public officials,” he stated.

His remarks highlighted the importance of addressing financial irregularities identified through public audits and ensuring that the state does not lose money through weak oversight or failures in financial administration.

The Auditor-General’s reports play an important role in identifying irregularities and weaknesses in the management of public funds, providing a basis for corrective action and improved financial accountability.

Beyond recovering public funds after irregularities have occurred, Dr. Forson stressed the need to establish stronger systems that prevent losses in the first place.

He argued that public financial management should not depend primarily on recovering money after it has been misused or improperly accounted for.

Instead, government institutions must develop effective controls, improve oversight and strengthen compliance with financial management procedures to protect public resources.

“But above all, let us build systems where recovery becomes the exception, not an annual ritual,” he said.

The Finance Minister’s call places emphasis on prevention, transparency and accountability as essential elements of responsible public administration.

For regional ministers and MMDCEs, the message underscores the importance of maintaining proper financial records, ensuring that public expenditure follows established procedures and addressing audit findings promptly.

Dr. Forson’s remarks also reinforce the broader responsibility of public officials to safeguard state resources and ensure that funds allocated for development and public services deliver benefits to Ghanaians.

He maintained that recovering money owed to the state is necessary, but building systems that prevent financial irregularities should remain the ultimate objective of public financial management.