An audit into Ghana’s flagship Agenda 111 hospital project has uncovered the misuse of about $7.9 million by several contractors, according to the Deputy Minister of Finance.
The revelation forms part of findings from the Auditor-General’s review of government arrears and payables, which was presented to Parliament by the Deputy Finance Minister. The audit identified significant irregularities involving payments made to contractors who either failed to start work or carried out little to no work on their assigned hospital projects.
According to the report, 35 contractors received payments totalling approximately $7.9 million despite failing to commence construction on their assigned projects under the Agenda 111 initiative. The Auditor-General has therefore directed the contractors involved to refund the full amount to the state.
The audit also revealed that the government has terminated the contracts of 11 contractors linked to some of the most serious breaches, including failure to mobilise to project sites after receiving payments. Authorities say the move is part of efforts to ensure accountability and prevent further financial losses to the state.
Strengthening accountability
Presenting the findings, the Deputy Finance Minister stressed the government’s commitment to strengthening financial oversight and enforcing accountability in public infrastructure projects.
He explained that the audit forms part of broader efforts to clean up the country’s public financial management system and recover funds that were wrongly paid out.
The ministry, he said, is working closely with the Auditor-General’s Department and other state institutions to ensure that the funds are retrieved and that individuals or companies responsible for the irregularities face appropriate sanctions.
Concerns over Agenda 111 progress
The findings come at a time when the Agenda 111 programme, which was launched to construct more than 100 hospitals across Ghana to improve healthcare access, has faced growing scrutiny over delays and funding challenges.
The project was introduced to address gaps in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in districts without hospitals, and to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.
However, the audit report suggests that weak contract supervision and payment controls may have contributed to the irregularities, raising concerns about how public funds are being managed under the programme.
Recovery efforts underway
Government officials say steps are being taken to recover the misused funds and tighten monitoring mechanisms for ongoing and future projects.
The Deputy Finance Minister indicated that authorities are determined to ensure that the Agenda 111 programme delivers its intended benefits to Ghanaians while safeguarding public resources.
He assured Parliament that the Finance Ministry will continue to collaborate with oversight institutions to track irregular payments, enforce refunds, and improve transparency in the management of state-funded projects.
