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Finance Minister Launches Comprehensive Accountability Reforms in Ghana
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Published in Business and Finance on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 19:11 GMT by Ghanaweb.com- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Finance Minister Outlines New Measures to Strengthen Accountability in Ghana’s Public Service
By [Your Name] – GhanaWeb News, 2025
In a landmark address to the Parliament and the nation, Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam unveiled a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at boosting transparency, integrity and performance across the public sector. The speech, delivered in Accra on 12 November 2025, came after weeks of consultations with civil servants, business leaders and civil‑society organisations, and was framed around the Ministry’s vision of “good governance that fuels growth”.
1. A Multi‑Layered Approach to Accountability
Minister Adam emphasised that accountability is not a single policy but an ecosystem of tools, norms and oversight mechanisms. The key pillars of the strategy are:
| Pillar | What It Entails | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Digitalisation of Public Finance | Launch of an integrated e‑budgeting platform that links planning, execution and audit in real time. | Faster decision‑making, reduced manual errors, and a single source of truth for public funds. |
| Strengthening Internal Audit | Deployment of a new cadre of professional auditors, supported by AI‑driven analytics to spot anomalies. | Early detection of fraud and waste; improved financial discipline. |
| Transparent Procurement | Full implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2020, with a mandatory electronic tender portal. | Lower corruption risk, more competitive bidding, and cost savings for the state. |
| Performance‑Based Management | Introduction of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for ministries and agencies, tied to budget allocation. | Alignment of resources with national priorities and measurable progress. |
| Whistle‑blowing and Anti‑Corruption Hotline | Establishment of a 24‑hour hotline, protected by a whistle‑blower law that safeguards anonymity and immunity. | Encourages frontline staff to report malpractice, creating a culture of accountability. |
| Capacity Building and Ethics Training | Mandatory ethics modules for all public officials, plus continuous professional development programmes. | Sustained behaviour change and institutional resilience. |
The Minister further announced that the Ministry will now publish quarterly “Transparency Reports” on a publicly accessible portal, detailing how funds have been disbursed and used. These reports will include downloadable PDFs, interactive dashboards, and explanatory notes aimed at the general public.
2. Linking to Existing Governance Frameworks
In his speech, Adam referenced several statutory and institutional frameworks that will underpin the reforms:
The Treasury Board – a body that coordinates financial planning across ministries. The new reforms will see the Treasury Board adopt a “Performance‑Based Budgeting” model, integrating the KPIs introduced above.
The Anti‑Corruption Unit (ACU) – an independent agency responsible for investigating graft. The Finance Ministry will collaborate closely with the ACU to share audit findings and to co‑lead corruption‑risk assessments.
The Public Procurement Act 2020 – already enacted to streamline procurement, the Act will now be fully operationalised via the e‑tender portal. Links in the original article pointed to the Ministry’s procurement page, which provides detailed guidelines and timelines for each agency.
The Ghana Development Bank (GDB) – the Minister highlighted the role of GDB in channeling savings into productive investment, noting that the bank’s funding will be closely monitored through the new accountability dashboard.
The article on GhanaWeb also linked to the Ministry’s Budget Planning Portal, a repository of draft and final budgets, which will now be updated in real time as the digitalisation process progresses. This portal, once upgraded, will allow citizens to see the exact allocation of resources to each programme and to track spending against budgeted amounts.
3. Contextualising the Reforms
Ghana’s 2025 fiscal year faces significant challenges: a debt burden that rose to 50 % of GDP last year, a need for increased infrastructure spending, and mounting public pressure to curb corruption. The Finance Ministry’s new framework is designed to address these challenges by ensuring that every Naira is accounted for and used efficiently.
According to data released by the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Outlook Report (linked in the article), public debt service costs have plateaued but the growth of public expenditure remains a concern. “We cannot afford to waste resources,” the Minister remarked. “Every Naira that leaves the Treasury must bring tangible benefits to our citizens.”
The reforms are also in line with the Ghanaian government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By tightening accountability, the Ministry aims to make strides in SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). In particular, the introduction of performance‑based budgeting is expected to create more efficient public sector employment and better service delivery.
4. Stakeholder Reactions
Civil‑Society: The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD‑Ghana) welcomed the move, noting that “transparent budgeting and robust audits are critical to preventing misappropriation of public funds.” CDD‑Ghana’s spokesperson said the organisation will monitor the implementation of the new tools and advocate for independent oversight.
Business Community: The Ghana Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) expressed support, especially for the e‑procurement portal, which it expects to reduce transaction costs and increase competition. However, some members urged the Ministry to also address the long‑standing “procurement bottlenecks” such as slow tender issuance and limited digital literacy among smaller firms.
Parliamentary Oversight: The Parliament’s Committee on Finance praised the Minister’s candidness and urged for timely legislative backing. The Committee will soon draft a Public Finance Transparency Act that will formalise the new reporting and audit mechanisms.
5. Implementation Roadmap
The Finance Ministry has outlined a phased rollout plan:
Phase 1 (Months 1–6) – Pilot e‑budgeting in three ministries (Health, Education, Infrastructure). Deploy internal audit teams and launch the whistle‑blowing hotline.
Phase 2 (Months 7–12) – Expand e‑budgeting across all ministries. Implement the procurement portal, ensuring all tenders are posted online and bid documents are digitally signed.
Phase 3 (Months 13–18) – Introduce performance‑based KPIs for all agencies. Publish the first Transparency Report and conduct a nationwide public awareness campaign.
Phase 4 (Months 19–24) – Evaluate outcomes, refine tools, and institutionalise the new processes as standard operating procedures.
Minister Adam concluded his speech with a call to action: “We owe it to our citizens to build a public service that is trustworthy, efficient and responsive. This is a collective effort that will shape Ghana’s future for generations.”
6. Looking Ahead
While the reforms mark a decisive step forward, the Ministry acknowledges that technology alone cannot eradicate corruption. “People, values and governance culture must evolve in tandem,” the Minister said. To that end, the Ministry will also collaborate with universities, professional bodies and the media to embed ethical norms in the civil service.
The new measures are already generating excitement, and the GhanaWeb article, with its embedded links to the Ministry’s portals, the Public Procurement Act, and the Treasury Board’s website, provides a useful starting point for citizens to understand the specifics. As the reforms roll out, the country will need to monitor progress closely, ensuring that the promise of transparency translates into tangible benefits for all Ghanaians.
Read the Full Ghanaweb.com Article at:
[ https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Finance-minister-outlines-measures-to-strengthen-accountability-in-public-service-2009420 ]
