Government Institutions Should Get Their Acts Together Or Risk Losing Trust, Integrity And Credibility

There is an unfortunate and escalating public spat between two of the most critical institutions of government—the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture—over disputed financial releases. The Finance Ministry insists it has disbursed more than one billion cedis to the Agriculture Ministry, but the latter flatly rejects this claim, saying no such funds appear in its accounts or financial records.

The obvious question is: why is this matter being litigated in the public domain, as though the activities, records, and financial worksheets of these two ministries exist outside the collective machinery of the Executive and Cabinet? It is a troubling and needless spectacle.

Payments and disbursements from the Ministry of Finance to any government agency are not done through casual conversations between ministers. They follow strict, traceable, and well‑documented procedures embedded across the public service. It is therefore baffling that alleged payments—or the absence of them—have become the subject of a public disagreement.

At this point, one is entitled to ask: whose responsibility is it within government to step in, quietly and decisively, to resolve such discrepancies before they erupt into public controversy? Is the government operating as a coherent unit, or are early signs of internal dysfunction beginning to surface?

Every well‑meaning Ghanaian expects issues of this nature to be addressed swiftly and professionally within established government structures. This public embarrassment serves no one. It sends the wrong signals to investors and observers assessing the country’s governance and institutional stability.

There must be renewed focus on the substantive work of governance. Enough of the endless funeral attendances and gratuitous photo opportunities. The real work—often unglamorous, technical, and demanding—requires attention. When neglected, these matters fester and can inflict serious, sometimes irreparable, damage.

A word to the wise.