A major discrepancy has been uncovered in Ghana’s public debt figures, with the Auditor-General’s report highlighting a GH¢138.91 billion difference between records submitted by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) and the Ministry of Finance.

According to the report, while the CAGD quoted Ghana’s total public debt at GH¢861.4 billion, the Finance Ministry’s records reflected a lower figure of GH¢737.17 billion.

The variance was captured in the Whole of Government Accounts submitted to the Auditor-General.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, the Controller and Accountant General, Mr. Kwasi Agyei, moved to clarify the issue, insisting that the figures reflected in the government accounts had been reconciled.

Supporting this position, the Assistant Auditor-General in charge of Whole of Government Account Audit, Mr. Paul Affram, told the committee that a reconciliation exercise was conducted after the Auditor-General’s report was released, affirming the CAGD’s assertion.

The development underscores ongoing concerns about data consistency and transparency in the reporting of Ghana’s debt stock, which remains a central issue in public financial management and fiscal policy.