The Ministry of Energy has emerged as the most financially noncompliant government institution in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, accounting for a staggering GH¢15.8 billion in irregularities, approximately 86% of the total infractions recorded across the entire public sector.
According to the report covering the year ending December 31, 2024, financial discrepancies linked to the Ministry of Energy amounted to GH¢15,832,975,487 out of a total GH¢18.42 billion in irregularities reported among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The bulk of these breaches stemmed from widespread violations in contract execution, procurement practices, tax obligations, and poor inventory management.
At the heart of the financial chaos is the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), whose failure to accurately report revenue and implement effective internal controls significantly contributed to the Ministry’s ballooning irregularities.
In a damning revelation, the report disclosed that ECG understated its 2023 revenue by more than GH¢2.95 billion—reporting only GH¢8.64 billion to the Ministry of Energy and other oversight bodies despite actually collecting GH¢11.59 billion.
The finding is especially troubling given Ghana’s ongoing efforts to stabilize and expand its energy infrastructure, enhance access, and advance toward sustainable energy transition goals. The report underscores that such financial mismanagement threatens the viability of national investment strategies in the sector.
While the Auditor-General noted that a portion of the mismanaged funds may be recoverable, the scale and severity of the irregularities have raised alarms. The report calls for urgent reforms, including tighter enforcement of financial regulations, enhanced internal auditing, and greater accountability across MDAs.
The Energy Ministry’s dominant share of public sector irregularities has intensified scrutiny on its financial oversight and reignited public concern about value-for-money in critical national projects.
