“Presidency Overshoots 2024 Budget by Over 101.5%” – Auditor General Uncovers Massive Overspending
By: Nana Kwasi Roka
The Office of Government Machinery (OGM) under the NPP regime, which includes the Office of the President, has come under intense scrutiny following revelations in the latest Auditor General’s report that it overspent its approved 2024 budget by more than 101.5%.
According to the Auditor General’s Report on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Whole-of-Government Accounts) for the Year Ended 31 December 2024, the OGM was allocated a budget of GH¢2.07 billion for the year, but ended up spending a staggering GH¢4.18 billion.
Shocking Breakdown of Expenditure
The most alarming component of the overspending was in compensation, which ballooned from a budgeted GH¢352.12 million to GH¢1.4 billion – a variance of GH¢1.05 billion.
The Office of the President alone saw an astronomical jump in its compensation budget, shooting up from GH¢153.99 million to GH¢761.35 million, resulting in a variance of GH¢607.37 million.
Other expenditure variances include:
Goods and Services: From GH¢571.20 million to GH¢1.21 billion – an overrun of GH¢637.57 million.
Specialised Expenses: Budgeted at GH¢536.39 million, actual spending hit GH¢692.48 million – a variance of GH¢156.08 million.
Non-Financial Assets: Budgeted at GH¢613.87 million, but actual expenditure reached GH¢881.48 million – an overrun of GH¢267.61 million.
For Non-Financial Assets, the Office of the President alone spent GH¢282.31 million against a budget of GH¢67.00 million – a difference of GH¢215.31 million.
Breach of Financial Laws
These expenditures, according to financial analysts, constitute a blatant violation of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, both of which are designed to curb excessive and unapproved government spending.
Civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates are expected to mount pressure for accountability and possible sanctions.
The revelations come at a time when Ghana continues to face significant economic challenges and is under an IMF programme that demands fiscal discipline and transparency.
Source: Auditor General’s Report on Public Accounts of Ghana (2024)
