'No Govt Contract Shall Be Approved Without Prior Commencement Authorisation from MoF' - Ato Forson

Accra, Ghana - 08 April, 2025 - Ghana's Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has introduced a directive enforcing fiscal discipline in public administration, mandating Ministry of Finance (MoF) approval for government contracts starting April 3, 2025. 

In a statement on his X account (formerly Twitter), Dr Ato Forson noted that the move is part of a broader effort to restore trust in public service and promote transparency, responsibility, and discipline in implementing the national budget.

Dr. Forson emphasized that this is not merely a bureaucratic process but a legal requirement, and any breach will attract serious consequences.

''At a recent meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, I delivered a firm directive that takes effect from April 3, 2025: 

''No government contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance.

''This is not business as usual. This is a decisive step to enforce fiscal discipline, ensure accountability, and end the culture of financial recklessness in public administration. 

He added that principal spending officers will be held personally accountable for violating this directive. The directive aligns with the recently amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025.

''If you are a principal spending officer and you violate this directive, you will be held personally accountable.

''It is in full alignment with the recently amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025.

According to him, the Ministry of Finance will no longer carry the weight of fiscal indiscipline alone, and public officials are urged to act with integrity and a deep sense of national duty.

''The Ministry of Finance will no longer carry the weight of fiscal indiscipline alone. 

''I made it unequivocally clear: You cannot award contracts without the express approval of the Ministry of Finance. 

''Every contract must now receive commencement authorisation. 

''Let me repeat: No commencement certificate, no procurement.

''This is not merely a bureaucratic process—it is a legal requirement. 

''Any breach of this directive will attract serious consequences.

''I urge all public officials to act with integrity and a deep sense of national duty. 

''We are among the privileged few—we must not continue to subject our people to hardship through negligence or abuse of public resources.

''Restoring trust in public service begins with transparency, responsibility, and discipline in implementing the national budget. 

''That journey starts now,'' he concluded.

This development is expected to curb unapproved public expenditure and promote fiscal discipline across government institutions.

Source: Lead News Online