A sweeping audit of Ghana’s Ministry of Roads and Highways has uncovered severe procurement irregularities involving nearly 2,000 contract claims valued at more than GHS 72 billion, raising concerns over the scale of financial exposure and the credibility of the country’s road infrastructure liabilities.
The findings, drawn from the Auditor General’s database and reinforced by statements from the Finance Minister, point to systemic malpractices ranging from recycled invoices to fictitious road projects.
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According to the audit data, a total of 1,991 road contract claims have been flagged as questionable, encompassing bitumen works, bridge construction contracts, and various rehabilitation projects.
These claims collectively amount to GHS 72.5 billion, an unprecedented figure in Ghana’s road sector audit history.
The Auditor General has already rejected claims worth GHS 4.7 billion, while 14 Bank Transfer Advice (BTA) entries valued at GHS 27.3 million have also been dismissed.
A significantly larger tranche, 1,566 claims valued at GHS 67.7 billion, remains pending verification. Contractors involved have been issued a deadline to substantiate their documentation, with failure to comply expected to result in cancellation.
The Finance Minister has further disclosed an additional GHS 8.6 billion in claims awaiting third-party confirmation due to incomplete documentation, bringing the total figure of questionable liabilities even higher.
The audit also confirmed the Finance Minister’s assertion that GHS 10 billion in liabilities would not be honoured because auditors deemed them illegitimate.
These rejected claims include major submissions such as three Ofankor–Nsawam Road claims worth GHS 103 million and a Boundary Road traffic light project claim of approximately GHS 1.5 million.
Underlying the financial irregularities is a pattern of fraudulent practices uncovered by auditors.
Key issues identified include recycled Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) previously paid for, falsified “stores receive advice” documents submitted as proof of work or materials, entirely fictitious claims for non-existent projects, and fake documents used to justify payments.
The government is preparing to publicly expose contractors implicated in the malfeasance, as the audit forms part of a wider effort to sanitise the country’s liabilities and enforce accountability within the road procurement system.
With billions at stake, the verification process is expected to play a decisive role in determining which claims survive scrutiny and which are permanently struck off the books.
