Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is facing renewed scrutiny after appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where auditors’ findings exposed major financial irregularities, including tens of millions of cedis in duplicate claims.
During the hearing, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Hon. Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor who is a member of the committee, questioned ministry officials over discrepancies outlined in the audit report, describing the situation as deeply concerning.
The report revealed that claims exceeding GH¢1.1 million were rejected due to administrative lapses such as duplicate entries and payment requests for expenses that had already been settled. Additionally, about GH¢3.7 million remains unaccounted for, with auditors pointing to missing documentation, lack of third-party verification, and poor record-keeping practices.
A major highlight of the session was the disclosure of duplicate claims estimated at over GH¢80 million. Committee members described this as alarming, suggesting it could point to either severe incompetence or possible fraudulent activity within the system.
Hon. Okunor pressed officials on how such a large volume of duplicated claims could have passed through internal auditing and financial control mechanisms before reaching the Ministry of Finance. She also questioned whether any formal investigations had been launched to determine accountability.
In response, ministry representatives led by the Deputy Minister of Lands, Hon. Alhaji Yussif Sulemana admitted to the irregularities but attributed them partly to the complex structure of compensation payments within the sector. They explained that payments often involve multiple agencies, including the Lands Commission, and may be processed either directly to affected individuals or through institutions responsible for disbursement.
According to the Deputy Minister, these overlapping processes can sometimes result in inconsistencies in financial records, especially when coordination between agencies is weak.
However, PAC members insisted on clearer answers, urging technical officers within the ministry to take responsibility for the discrepancies and provide detailed explanations. The committee emphasized that such financial lapses undermine public trust and must be addressed with urgency.
“This report concerns your ministry, and accountability must be ensured,” the committee stressed during the session.
