The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has issued a firm directive that no government contract shall be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance, effective April 3, 2025.
In a strongly worded message shared via his official X account, Dr. Forson described the move as a critical measure to enforce fiscal discipline, strengthen accountability, and end what he called a “culture of financial recklessness” in public administration.
“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,” the Minister said following a meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The directive aligns with the newly amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025, which mandates stricter controls over public expenditure and contract approvals. Dr. Forson warned that any contract awarded without the express authorisation of his ministry would be considered illegal and subject to sanctions.
“Let me repeat: No commencement certificate, no procurement. This is not merely a bureaucratic process—it is a legal requirement,” he emphasised
The Finance Minister made it clear that the Ministry would no longer shoulder the consequences of fiscal indiscipline alone. He signalled a new era of accountability in which principal spending officers that breach this directive will be held personally responsible.
“Any breach of this directive will attract serious consequences. If you are a principal spending officer and you violate this directive, you will be held personally accountable,” Dr. Forson cautioned.
He called on all public officials to act with integrity and a renewed sense of national duty, underscoring the broader objective of restoring public trust in government.
“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 wrote.