Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt says reports indicating that Ghana could have lost GH¢21 billion through fraudulent activities should be treated as a serious national matter.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, monitored by MyNewsGh, Pratt said the scale of the figure alone makes the issue significant, regardless of the stage of investigation.
“Any report, factual or inaccurate, which suggests that the people of Ghana have lost GH¢21 billion through fraud is a bombshell,” he said.
His comments follow a special audit into Ghana’s unpaid debts that uncovered GHC21.35 billion suspicious, duplicated and fictitious claims on state coffers, compelling a government pledge to prosecute all individuals involved in what it terms a “systemic plunder” of the public purse.
During the discussion, which included Afigya Kwabre North MP Collins Adomako-Mensah, Pratt acknowledged that not all of the amount cited in the audit may have been taken directly by individuals.
However, he argued that even an alleged attempt to divert such an amount warrants attention.
“Even if it is just alleged that somebody tried to steal GH¢21 billion, it is still a bombshell. It is jaw-dropping,” Pratt said.
He noted that the audit findings point to several discrepancies in government spending and procurement, some of which could involve funds that cannot currently be accounted for.
Pratt stressed that the size of the amount under discussion makes the issue one that cannot be dismissed lightly.
“No matter how you look at it, it is not an exaggeration for anyone to describe this as a serious matter,” he added.
