Ghana's Ministry of Finance has failed to disclose its own budgetary allocations and disbursements for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. This refusal comes despite a formal Right to Information (RTI) request submitted by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in April and May 2026.
The MFWA sought this crucial financial data as part of an ongoing analysis into public finance allocations and disbursements across various government ministries and state institutions. While many other entities have complied, the Finance Ministry, which manages the national purse, has remained silent. This lack of disclosure persists even after the MFWA filed an internal appeal to the Minister, as mandated by the RTI Act, 989.
This incident highlights a recurring challenge in Ghana's public financial management system regarding transparency. The Finance Ministry is central to approving and releasing funds for all government departments and agencies. Its reluctance to provide its own financial records undermines efforts to ensure accountability and public trust in how taxpayer money is spent. This situation could impact Ghana's standing in global transparency indices and investor confidence.
The Fourth Estate, a project of the MFWA, reported that the Ministry's RTI Officer initially requested a minor wording change in the request letter. The MFWA complied, resubmitting the revised letter on April 13, 2026. Despite this, and subsequent follow-ups, the Ministry has not provided the requested information.
This refusal by the Finance Ministry is not an isolated incident. The Fourth Estate has previously encountered similar resistance from other public institutions. In July 2026, it petitioned the RTI Commission over the Public Procurement Authority's refusal to release information on road contract approvals since January 2025. In May 2025, Parliament also faced an RTI Commission petition for failing to disclose expenditure on the Speaker's foreign medical travels. The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) was similarly petitioned in December 2025 for not providing details on contracts with Zoomlion Company Limited from 2017 to 2024. These repeated instances suggest a systemic issue with compliance with the RTI Act across various government bodies.
The implications of the Finance Ministry's non-compliance are significant for Ghana's governance and economic stability. A lack of transparency in public finances can foster corruption and misallocation of resources, potentially leading to increased national debt or inefficient public service delivery. Investors and international partners often scrutinize a country's transparency levels when making investment decisions. Continued opacity could deter foreign direct investment and impact Ghana's credit ratings.
Moving forward, all eyes will be on the RTI Commission to see how it addresses this critical case involving the nation's chief financial institution. The Commission's ruling will set a precedent for future RTI requests and could either strengthen or weaken Ghana's commitment to open governance. Civil society organizations and media outlets will continue to press for greater accountability, underscoring the importance of the RTI Act 989 in fostering a transparent and responsible government.