ACCRA, Ghana (BG) – In a move to enforce fiscal discipline and eliminate financial recklessness in public administration, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that no government contract will be approved without prior commencement authorization from the Ministry of Finance, effective April 3, 2025.

The directive was delivered at a recent meeting with chief directors and senior officials from various ministries, departments and agencies, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Forson made it clear that the days of unchecked contract approvals are over.

“You cannot award contracts without the express approval of the Ministry of Finance,” he stated emphatically.

“No commencement certificate, no procurement.”

Forson explained that every government contract must now obtain commencement authorization.

He emphasised that this is not merely an administrative change, but a legal requirement under the amended Public Financial Management Act of 2025.

He warned that any breach of this directive will attract severe consequences.

“The Ministry of Finance will no longer take the fall for fiscal indiscipline,” he said.

The minister called on all public officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity and patriotism in managing public funds.

“We are among the privileged few. We cannot continue to subject our people to hardship through poor governance and financial mismanagement,” Forson stated.

He emphasized that Ghana’s path to fiscal responsibility begins with strict adherence to budget implementation processes, transparency and accountability across all levels of government.