The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that an audit into the District Roads Improvement Programme (DRIP) has uncovered significant financial irregularities, including a $2 million overpayment to contractor JA Plant Pool and GH¢38.7 million in tax evasion related to the importation of road construction equipment.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House in Accra, Dr. Ayine said the revelations form part of the government’s broader initiative to strengthen transparency and recover misused public funds.

“In the case of DRIP, JA Plant Pool was paid $2 million more than the contract sum,” he revealed.

“The contract value was $176 million, but our audit of payment records showed that $178 million was actually disbursed.

We have therefore directed that the excess $2 million be refunded by JA Plant Pool.”

Dr. Ayine further explained that investigators uncovered irregularities involving the importation of 190 pieces of heavy-duty road equipment that were cleared without the payment of duties.

“These machines were added to the project as though they were tax-exempt,” he noted.

“However, when investigators analysed the Harmonised System (HS) codes used by customs to classify the goods, it was discovered that GH¢38.7 million in taxes were wrongfully evaded.”

He confirmed that the findings have been referred for further investigation and possible prosecution, as part of the government’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption and financial malpractice.

The Justice Minister also highlighted that the DRIP audit is one of several ongoing probes into public sector spending.

He referenced ongoing prosecutions in high-profile cases such as the Sky Train project and the National Service Secretariat scandal.

According to Dr. Ayine, former National Service CEO Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy, Gifty Oware, have already been charged following a forensic audit by the Auditor-General, which revealed that GH¢2.2 billion was irregularly spent — a figure far exceeding the GH¢548 million initially identified.

He added that further investigations are underway into expenditures related to the All African Games, Mathematical Sets procurement, Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters, stadia renovation projects, and the National Cathedral.

Dr. Ayine reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to enforcing accountability and restoring public confidence in state institutions.

“Our message is clear — every pesewa of public funds must be accounted for. No one will be allowed to misuse the resources of the Ghanaian people without consequence,” he stressed.