*Strengthen Internal Controls To Match Increased DACF, Abena Osei-Asare Urges Government*

The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Hon. Abena Osei-Asare, has called on government to strengthen internal controls alongside the increased allocation to District Assemblies.

Contributing to debate on the Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament, Hon. Osei-Asare noted that while the Finance Minister announced an additional GH¢3 billion for District Assemblies, infractions recorded in the Auditor-General’s report have also escalated.

“Mr. Speaker, yes they have given monies to the assemblies, but have you checked the Auditor-General’s report? The infractions have increased from GH¢18 million to GH¢134 million in 2025,” she said. 

“Mr. Speaker, so you don’t just give the monies, you also strengthen internal controls to ensure the monies are spent in the right places.”

The Atiwa East MP also raised concerns over expenditure relating to the Ghana Gold Board, GoldBod.

“Mr. Speaker, one thing that raises a lot of concern is an expenditure item in the end of 2025 budget that has to do with GoldBod. In the last quarter, GH¢4.5 billion was transferred to one agency,” she stated.

Hon. Osei-Asare further cited the IMF’s Sixth Review report, which she said flagged Ghana’s domestic gold purchase programme.

“Mr. Speaker, with your permission I read: _‘In completing the review, the Executive Board approved a waiver of non-observance of the end-December 2025 performance criteria pertaining to the ceiling on Bank of Ghana claims on central government and public entities. They breached the margin due to the arrangement under the domestic gold purchase programme.’_”

She added that the Bank of Ghana spent close to $900 million on GoldBod, and without the IMF waiver, “we would not have passed the 6th review.”

Report filed by PKB