Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has disclosed that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the former Akufo-Addo administration awarded contracts amounting to over GH¢195 billion.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV on Wednesday, 12th March, a day after presenting the 2025 Budget, Dr Forson expressed alarm at the scale of commitments made.

He explained that the figures compelled him to suspend payments while seeking further clarification from the MDAs involved.

He further revealed that multiple payment requests had been submitted to the Ministry of Finance. According to him, outstanding certificates that had already reached the Finance Ministry for processing totalled GHC18.2 billion.

Additionally, another GHC49.5 billion worth of certificates remained unprocessed at the Controller and Accountant General’s office.

"MDAs had awarded contracts over GH¢195 billion. Then, aside from that, the MDAs had generated certificates yet to be paid.

"Those that went to the Ministry of Finance and were being processed to the Controller and Accountant General amounted to GH¢18.2 billion."

"Another GH¢49.5 or GH¢49.6 billion were certificates yet to be processed at the Accountant General’s office for payment. So, I was alarmed. And they expect the government to pay them," he stated.

Dr Forson’s disclosure raises serious concerns about the fiscal commitments of the previous administration and their potential impact on the nation’s economic stability.