The Member of Parliament for Walewale, Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru, has criticised a report on arrears and payables presented to Parliament of Ghana, describing it as a “compendium of half-truths.”
The report, read in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, by Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem on behalf of the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, outlined the findings of an audit into GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted by contractors and suppliers as outstanding payments at the end of 2024.
Among the issues highlighted in the report was the purchase of 10,000 metric tonnes of rice by the government in 2024, which remains unaccounted for, raising concerns about accountability in the distribution of food supplies intended to mitigate the impact of the dry spell.
The report also indicated that GH¢45.4 billion out of the GH¢68.7 billion in claims submitted by contractors and suppliers had been validated for payment following an audit and verification exercise.
It further disclosed that 35 contractors under the Agenda 111 initiative received about US$7.9 million in mobilisation funds but allegedly failed to mobilise to the site or undertake work commensurate with the payments.
Reacting to the report during an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s programme The Point of View on Wednesday, March 11, Dr Abdul-Kabiru questioned aspects of the report and described it as misleading.
“The Minister’s report is a compendium of half-truths. There are certain issues in the report that, if they are true, we in the Minority will support full disclosure and investigations, and those people found culpable should be made to face the full rigour of the law,” he said.
According to the report, the Ghana Audit Service, working in collaboration with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers, conducted a verification exercise on GH¢68.7 billion in unpaid Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), invoices and Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) owed to contractors and suppliers.
The audit found that outstanding IPCs and invoices accounted for GH¢50.5 billion, while unpaid Bank Transfer Advices amounted to GH¢18.3 billion.
