BudgIT Ghana, Revenue Mobilisation Africa Demand Full Disclosure, Reforms After ORAL Report Exposes GHS 626m Public Fund Losses
BudgIT Ghana and Revenue Mobilisation Africa (RMA) are calling for urgent and coordinated reforms in Ghana’s public finance systems following disturbing revelations from the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) investigation into financial scandals at the National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The investigation, presented by the Office of the Attorney General in collaboration with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), uncovered over GH¢626 million in losses to the state between 2018 and 2024 through ghost names, fund diversion, and misuse of resources.
According to the Attorney General’s briefing, over 81,000 fictitious names were identified on the NSS payroll, leading to an estimated loss of GH¢548 million. At NAFCO, officials were cited for unlawfully diverting over GH¢78.2 million intended for food security and the school feeding programme.
Commenting on the findings, Country Manager for BudgIT Ghana, Jennifer A. Moffatt, stated that the revelations highlight deep institutional weaknesses in public finance management.
“These cases don’t represent isolated errors. They expose institutional vulnerabilities in our budget execution systems and show that access to data alone is insufficient when citizens cannot trace how funds move or who is accountable,” she said.
Executive Director of RMA, Geoffrey Kabutey Ocansey, also emphasised the need for structural reforms, adding, “These revelations should not only shock us; they should compel structural action. It is time to fix the loopholes that make revenue leakages possible and restore citizens’ trust in fiscal governance.”
The two civil society organisations are demanding the immediate publication of the full ORAL dossier, creation of real-time monitoring dashboards for high-risk agencies, regular updates on prosecutions and asset recoveries, and strengthened safeguards under the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921).
BudgIT Ghana and RMA reaffirmed their commitment to supporting government and civil society efforts to promote transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the protection of public funds in Ghana.
