Editorial: Let us rein in excessive public spending and corruption

According to the report of a survey IMANI Ghana launched at the Mesvic Hotel in Accra last week, most Ghanaians want the government to reduce public spending. The survey was conducted by the Oxford Research Group for IMANI.

Since the sample size covered more than 100, 000 respondents from 10 administrative regions of the country, the verdict of the respondents may be said to be representative of the national view on the issue.

According to the report, 95 percent of respondents in the Central Region, 87 percent in the Western Region and 86 percent in the Greater Accra Region want a reduction in government spending.

The report indicates that the majority of respondents of the survey which covered seven thematic areas, also want greater efforts to reduce corruption. They also want and the retrieval of all monies lost to the state through corruption.

We are of the view that the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament could do more to reduce not only corruption, but excessive public spending.

The Auditor-General is required by the constitution, to audit the whole of the public sector including the local government administrations, the courts, universities, public boards, corporations and all other public institutions operating or funded with public funds.

It is the duty of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to examine audited accounts showing the expenditure of funds granted by Parliament to meet the expenditure of the government, as presented to Parliament by the Auditor-General for approval.

After examining the Auditor General’s report, the Public Accounts Committee is required to submit its recommendations for appropriate action to be taken on the Auditor-General’s reports.

Yet it is rare to hear that on the basis of the Audit-General’s reports of financial improprieties at ministries and departments, sanctions have been imposed on the public officials responsible for the misuse of public money and steps taken to retrieve the monies.

We urge the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the Auditor-General and the Attorney-General to work more closely and more resolutely in reining in the theft of public money and extravagant public spending by government institutions.

Not long ago, the government instructed the Attorney General, and Minister of Justice to set up a special desk to investigate and prosecute all offenders who have been captured in the reports of the Auditor General concerning squandered state funds and assets.

The General Telegraph urges the Attorney General to ensure that the desk is set up and is made efficient in carrying out its mandated function.