The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has faced significant scrutiny following its failure to properly account for an astonishing GH₵91,837,457 categorized as arrears and payable commitments, which has raised new concerns regarding financial transparency and accountability.
This issue was highlighted on Monday, March 30, when officials from the ministry appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to address audit inquiries related to its financial records.
The PAC, which is responsible for reviewing the management of public funds and ensuring adherence to financial regulations, pressed representatives of the ministry for explanations regarding the discrepancies found in the reported figures.
As per the audit findings shared during the session, the ministry had reported a total of GH₵116,875,956 as arrears and payable commitments.
However, following a comprehensive examination of the submitted documentation, auditors could only verify GH₵25 million of the total amount.
This resulted in a substantial balance of GH₵91,837,457 remaining unaccounted for, leading auditors to dismiss the figure due to a lack of sufficient or verifiable supporting evidence.
In reaction to the audit findings, the former Chief Director of the ministry, Patrick Nimoh, contested the dismissal of the GH₵91.8 million.
He asserted that all necessary and pertinent documents had been properly submitted to the auditors during the review process.
He claimed that the ministry had adhered to all requirements and provided sufficient evidence to substantiate the reported arrears.
