‘Refund our money or proceed to Nsawam’ – Mahama warns audit offenders

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to public officials implicated in financial irregularities uncovered in Auditor-General’s reports, declaring that those found culpable will be compelled to refund misappropriated state funds or face imprisonment.

Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, the President expressed concern over the persistent financial losses recorded in annual audit reports, describing them as a major drain on Ghana’s economy and a threat to effective public financial management.

According to President Mahama, recurring audit infractions reveal longstanding weaknesses in accountability systems that must be addressed to protect public resources and restore confidence in state institutions.

“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 stated.

The President explained that the creation of specialised audit courts is intended to ensure that individuals implicated in financial misconduct face legal consequences beyond appearances before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

He noted that government plans to strengthen cooperation between the Auditor-General and the Attorney-General’s Department to pursue cases arising from audit findings and recover funds lost through financial mismanagement.

“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,” President Mahama said.

The President stressed that enforcing accountability through the courts would serve as a powerful deterrent against the misuse of public funds and help improve transparency, discipline, and efficiency within the public sector.

He maintained that recovering lost state resources and prosecuting offenders form a critical part of the government’s broader agenda to strengthen governance and ensure prudent management of public finances.

President Mahama’s comments come amid increasing public scrutiny of audit findings and growing calls for stronger enforcement measures against public officials cited for financial irregularities.