Finanace Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed that, MDAs under the former government awarded contracts worth GHS 194 billion.

He made these revelations on March 11, 2025, while presenting the 2025 budget in Parliament.

According to him, after assuming office as Finance Minister on January 23, 2025, he was met with numerous requests from suppliers and contractors demanding payment for outstanding debts. In response, he initiated a validation process to verify these claims and find ways to address them.

At the end of the meeting, it was discovered that MDAs awarded contracts worth GH¢194 billion without full payment being made yet apart from the GH¢67.5 billion the government already owes in unpaid bills.

"Mr Speaker when I assumed office in 23 Jan 2025r my office was inuandated with request for payment formanycontractors and suppliuers toascertain the total arrears and outsanding payment.The Ministry of Finance formally request all MDAs on 28th of Jan on all arrears and outstanding claims for validation.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the GH¢67.5 billion in arrears/payables, the validation process also revealed that MDAs have committed government through contract awards in excess of GH¢194 billion,14 about 16.5% of GDP as at end-2024, with the road sector alone accounting for over GH¢100 billion" he revealed.

He revealed that many contracts were issued without commencement certificates, authorization, or budgetary allocation, violating the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).

"Mr. Speaker, most of these contracts were awarded without commencement certificates and authorization, and without budgetary provision, a blatant violation of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921)".