By: Josephine Kekeli Amuzu
In a decisive move aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and accountability in public service, the government has announced that no government contract will be approved without prior commencement authorisation from the Ministry of Finance, effective April 3, 2025.
The directive was issued by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Ato Forson during a high-level meeting with Chief Directors and senior officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the Minister, the measure is in full alignment with the recently amended Public Financial Management Act, 2025, and is designed to put an end to the long-standing culture of financial recklessness in public administration.
“This is not business as usual,” the Minister stated firmly. “You cannot award contracts without the express approval of the Ministry of Finance. Every contract must now receive commencement authorisation. No commencement certificate, no procurement.”
He emphasized that this is not a mere bureaucratic formality, but a legal requirement. Any breach of this directive, he warned, would attract serious consequences.
The Ministry of Finance will no longer bear the sole burden of fiscal indiscipline. Principal spending officers who violate the directive will be held personally accountable.
Dr. Ato Forson called on all public officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and national service. “We are among the privileged few—we must not continue to subject our people to hardship through negligence or abuse of public resources,” he said.
He added that restoring trust in public service begins with transparency, responsibility, and discipline in managing the national budget. “That journey starts now,” he declared.
