Education Sector Flags Major Concerns in Public Financial Management Compliance Report
Ghana’s education sector has come under sharp scrutiny following the release of a comprehensive Public Financial Management (PFM) Compliance League Table by the Ministry of Finance, with several key institutions ranked among the lowest performers in financial compliance.
According to the report, the University of Ghana, the Ministry of Education, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment were all placed in the “Least Compliant” category, raising concerns about financial governance within some of the country’s most critical educational bodies.
The assessment, which evaluated 101 public institutions, measured adherence to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and other relevant financial regulations. In total, 19 institutions were classified as “Least Compliant,” signaling significant gaps in accountability and financial discipline.
Described as an objective and evidence-based benchmarking tool, the PFM Compliance League Table is part of broader efforts by the Ministry to strengthen oversight and promote prudent management of public resources. The report emphasized that the ranking system is designed not only to highlight deficiencies but also to drive reform.
“By constructively ranking institutions based on their level of compliance, the Ministry seeks to deepen transparency, promote accountability, and encourage continuous improvement across the public sector in the management and use of public resources,” the report stated.
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The inclusion of the University of Ghana in the bottom tier has drawn particular attention, given its longstanding reputation as the nation’s premier public university. Its ranking underscores the urgency for reforms even among institutions traditionally viewed as leaders in the sector.
In contrast, the Ghana Education Trust Fund demonstrated relatively strong performance, securing the 18th position within the “Compliant” category. This disparity highlights inconsistencies in financial management practices across the education landscape.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Finance has pledged targeted interventions to address these shortcomings. Through its PFM Compliance Division, it will engage directly with underperforming institutions to identify operational gaps and implement corrective measures. Authorities have also issued a clear warning: institutions that fail to improve risk facing stricter enforcement actions.
The report ultimately sends a strong signal about the government’s commitment to enforcing financial discipline and ensuring that public funds, especially within the vital education sector, are managed with the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
