The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) over GHS 14.88 million in payment vouchers processed outside the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). This significant financial irregularity came to light during the Committee's sitting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, as it reviewed the Auditor-General’s 2025 report on Ministries, Departments, and other Agencies.
The CRCC failed to process payments totalling GHS 14,882,540.98 through GIFMIS, a system designed to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending. A representative from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs explained that these transactions involved donor funds. He stated that journal vouchers were later used to capture these expenditures, and subsequent transactions have since been processed correctly through GIFMIS.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges with public financial management systems in Ghana. The GIFMIS platform is crucial for tracking government expenditure and revenue, ensuring that public funds, including donor funds, are managed transparently. Previous reports and warnings from the Ministry of Finance have emphasized the importance of using GIFMIS to prevent financial irregularities and improve fiscal discipline across all government entities.
Abena Osei-Asare, the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, expressed serious concerns about the recurring nature of such breaches. She warned the Central Regional Coordinating Council that if similar problems appear in future audits, the Committee will consider it evidence of a failure to implement corrective measures. This stern warning follows her earlier directive at the opening of the 2025 audit hearings, urging institutions to demonstrate tangible improvements based on prior audit findings.
The Committee's inquiry focused not only on the specific GHS 14.88 million in payments but also on the overall integrity of the financial system at the CRCC. Committee members questioned why donor funds, despite their origin, were initially excluded from GIFMIS, stressing that all donor funds are still public funds. The representative clarified that the funds were part of the approved budget, with donor components captured during the budget process. He attributed the initial problem to an issue with the budget code required for GIFMIS processing when releases were made.
The use of journal vouchers to retrospectively capture transactions that bypassed GIFMIS raises questions about real-time financial oversight. While the CRCC representative maintained that subsequent transactions are now processed through GIFMIS, the PAC remains vigilant. The Committee aims to distinguish between administrative infractions and actual financial losses, demanding clear evidence that audit recommendations are implemented and weak systems are corrected. This ongoing scrutiny is vital for strengthening public trust and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer and donor money.
The implications of such breaches extend beyond the Central Regional Coordinating Council. Consistent non-compliance with GIFMIS undermines Ghana's broader efforts to enhance public financial management and combat corruption. International partners and financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), often emphasize robust expenditure controls as a condition for support. The PAC's firm stance signals a commitment to holding public institutions accountable, which is critical for Ghana's economic stability and development. Future audits will closely monitor whether the CRCC and other entities have truly rectified their financial management practices.