The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has issued a firm directive barring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from awarding government contracts without prior approval from the Ministry of Finance.
The directive, which took effect today, is part of a broader effort to enforce fiscal discipline and ensure transparency in public financial management. It follows amendments to the Public Financial Management Act, 2025, which strengthens the legal framework for budgetary control.
Speaking at a meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials from various MDAs, Dr. Forson described the move as a “decisive step to end the culture of financial recklessness” that has plagued public administration.
He stated emphatically, “No government contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance. Let me repeat: No commencement certificate, no procurement.”
Dr. Forson warned that any breach of the directive would attract serious consequences, adding that principal spending officers who violate the rule would be held personally accountable.
“This is not business as usual,” he stressed. “The Ministry of Finance will no longer carry the weight of fiscal indiscipline alone.”
The Minister called on public officials to demonstrate integrity and responsibility in their stewardship of national resources, stating that restoring public trust requires strict adherence to legal and financial protocols.
He added, “We are among the privileged few—we must not continue to subject our people to hardship through negligence or abuse of public resources.”
The Ministry of Finance says the new measure is intended to reinforce accountability and ensure that all government expenditures align with the approved national budget.
