Ghana’s public finances suffered a major setback in 2025 as the Auditor-General uncovered financial irregularities amounting to more than GH¢5.26 billion, with tax-related losses accounting for over 91 percent of the total figure.
The findings are contained in the Auditor-General’s Report on the Public Accounts of Ghana: Ministries, Departments and other Agencies (MDAs) for the year ended December 31, 2025, which paints a troubling picture of mounting financial leakages across ministries, departments and government agencies.
According to the report, total irregularities reached GH¢5,266,315,079 in 2025, the highest figure recorded in the past five years and more than double the amount reported in 2024.
Tax irregularities emerged as the biggest source of concern, soaring to GH¢4.8 billion. The report also flagged an additional US$154,976 in tax-related irregularities, further widening the losses.
Cash irregularities amounted to GH¢410.7 million, while debts, loans and advances accounted for GH¢29.3 million. Payroll anomalies reached nearly GH¢20 million, raising concerns over possible unauthorised payments and weaknesses in payroll management. Other irregularities were recorded in contracts, stores and rent collections.
The report highlights a dramatic rise in financial irregularities over the past five years.
In 2021, total irregularities stood at just over GH¢1.08 billion. The figure rose to GH¢1.41 billion in 2022 before jumping to more than GH¢2.4 billion in 2023. Although irregularities declined slightly to about GH¢2.06 billion in 2024, the 2025 figure surged to a record GH¢5.26 billion.
Tax irregularities have driven much of this increase. Losses in that category grew from GH¢989 million in 2021 to GH¢1.25 billion in 2022 and GH¢2.16 billion in 2023. After dropping to GH¢1.58 billion in 2024, they skyrocketed to GH¢4.8 billion in 2025.
Cash irregularities also recorded a steep increase over the period, rising from GH¢45.8 million in 2021 to GH¢410.7 million in 2025.
In a related development, the Auditor-General has uncovered the payment of more than GH¢7.4 million to four deceased pensioners, raising fresh concerns about weaknesses in Ghana’s pension administration.
The revelation is contained in the Report of the Auditor-General on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies (MDAs) for the year ended December 31, 2025.
According to the report, a total of GH¢7,494,975.34 was paid to four pensioners after their deaths between February 2019 and March 2026, contrary to Regulation 88 of the Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378).
The Auditor-General has recommended that the Controller and Accountant-General recover the full amount, together with interest calculated at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rate, from the next of kin of the deceased pensioners.
The report further directed that any recovered funds should be paid into the Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account at the Bank of Ghana.
It warned that if the money cannot be recovered, legal action should be initiated against both the bankers involved and the next-of-kin of the deceased pensioners.
The finding forms part of a broader set of payroll irregularities identified in the 2025 audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as the Auditor-General continues efforts to strengthen accountability and safeguard public funds.
