The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come under intense scrutiny before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over a litany of financial infractions. Allegations include unearned salaries, improperly issued imprests, missing electronics, and embezzlement—raising questions about accountability and financial governance within the Ministry.
Unearned Salaries and Improper Imprests
According to the Auditor-General’s report, three Foreign Service Officers stationed in Abuja received salaries they were not owed, while at the Ankara mission, 19 personnel—including a former head of mission—were improperly issued imprests totaling €16,226, which has since been repaid
The PAC also flagged the unaccounted expenditure of $5,800 by Mrs. Esther Dzifa-Ofori, the former Head of Mission in Malabo. The funds, purportedly spent on a MacBook Air laptop and three Samsung S10 phones, remain untraced. Ambassador Ramses J. Cleland, the Ministry’s Chief Director, informed the Committee that he has reached out to Mrs. Dzifa-Ofori, who is currently out of the country.
Further, the Auditor-General’s report highlights a serious breach at the Prague mission. A former accountant allegedly diverted funds by deducting monies from home-based officers, depositing them into a private euro-denominated account. This marks a concerning example of financial misconduct that demands urgent corrective measures.
PAC’s Ranking Member, Mr. Samuel Atta-Mills, stressed the imperative for immediate action to correct these breaches and safeguard against future infractions. Madam Abena Osei Asare, PAC Chairperson and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, is overseeing a comprehensive public hearing from August 19 to August 26, where multiple ministries—including Foreign Affairs—will present their responses to the Auditor-General’s findings
During these sessions, a solemn moment of silence was observed to honor the late Environment Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who tragically died in a helicopter crash, along with seven others. Dr. Mohammed was also a fellow PAC member in the Eighth Parliament.
The ongoing hearings aren’t just about one ministry. The Auditor-General’s report for the year ending December 31, 2024, surfaces systemic weaknesses across several MDAs—including issues in debt management, asset safeguards, and financial reporting. This places broader pressure on the integrity of Ghana’s public finance system.
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