The Recoveries Account created by the Auditor-General to streamline the collection of disallowed unearned salaries and other recoverable funds has accumulated GH¢31.5 million as of the end of February 2025.
The account, established in June 2022 at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has played a crucial role in improving financial accountability by transferring funds to the Consolidated Fund held by BoG.
This significant achievement marks a major milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and financial accountability.
The Recoveries Account was introduced as part of reforms aimed at improving the recovery of misappropriated or unlawfully retained public funds, particularly disallowed unearned salaries and allowances imposed on public officials and institutions that caused financial loss to the state.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu noted the success of the account, stating that it has simplified the payment process for recipients of recoverable amounts, increasing compliance and ensuring better transparency in public funds management.
“The Recoveries Account has made it easier for individuals and institutions to pay recoverable amounts. It has also improved transparency and accountability in the management of public funds,” Mr. Asiedu said.
He also emphasized that the GH¢31.5 million collected so far underscores the effectiveness of the initiative in addressing financial malfeasance and recovering lost state resources.
The transfer of these funds to the Consolidated Fund aligns with Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that all public revenues be paid into the Consolidated Fund, except where otherwise stated by law.
Mr. Asiedu explained that the account’s creation followed challenges faced in the past in recovering funds, particularly the delays in payments and lack of a centralized system for tracking and managing recoveries.
Before the introduction of the Recoveries Account, funds recovery processes were often cumbersome and inefficient, but now, the system is more streamlined, making it easier to track and enforce recoveries.
Despite the successes, concerns have been raised by some stakeholders about delays in adjudicating surcharge cases and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
The Auditor-General acknowledged these concerns and assured that efforts were ongoing to address them, working closely with other state institutions, including the Office of the Attorney-General, to amend laws on surcharges to make them more implementable.
“We are committed to pursuing all outstanding recoveries and ensuring that those who have caused financial loss to the state are held accountable,” Mr. Asiedu said.
The Recoveries Account has already made a tangible impact, with GH¢31.5 million recovered from unearned salaries, allowances, and disallowed expenditures. This amount highlights the success of the initiative in recovering public funds, ensuring they are used for the benefit of the people of Ghana.
Furthermore, the Auditor-General’s reports continue to reveal significant irregularities in the use of public funds, with the Daily Graphic’s 10-year study revealing that irregularities amounted to a GH¢99.57 billion loss to the state.
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