The Ministry of Finance Ghana has rolled out a new Public Financial Management (PFM) Compliance League Table aimed at assessing and ranking state institutions based on how well they adhere to fiscal regulations, in a bid to enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

Announced in a press release dated March 19, 2026, the Ministry characterised the initiative as a “landmark transparency and accountability” tool intended to bolster fiscal discipline and improve the stewardship of public resources.

The League Table forms part of a pledge made in the 2025 Budget Statement to publish “an objective, evidence-based assessment” of institutional compliance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and its accompanying regulations.

The Ministry explained that the ranking system will act as a benchmark for evaluating how effectively public institutions observe financial management rules, while also exposing shortcomings that require corrective measures.

“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,” the statement said.

Leading institutions recognised

In the inaugural rankings, several organisations were placed in the “highly compliant” category. These include the Environmental Protection Authority Ghana, Tema Oil Refinery, and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition Ghana.

They are joined by the Ghana National Petroleum Commission, the Ministry of Finance Ghana, the Ghana AIDS Commission, and the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, all of which demonstrated strong compliance with PFM standards.

Widespread compliance noted

A significant number of institutions were classified as “compliant,” including major agencies such as the Ghana Airports Company Limited, the Ghana Education Trust Fund, and the Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana.

The category also features ministries and regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Health Ghana, Ministry of Transport Ghana, and the National Petroleum Authority Ghana, suggesting what the Ministry describes as a generally satisfactory level of compliance across much of the public sector.

Concerns over weaker performers

Despite the positive outlook, the League Table also draws attention to institutions with lower compliance levels.

The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Health Service, and Metro Mass Transit Limited Ghana were rated as “moderately compliant,” indicating areas where adherence to financial regulations needs improvement.

More notably, the “least compliant” category includes key institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority, the University of Ghana, and the National Communications Authority Ghana. Their inclusion highlights ongoing challenges within the country’s public financial management systems.

Enforcement measures to follow

The Ministry indicated that the League Table will serve not only as an assessment tool but also as a basis for enforcement.

It noted that it will “take firm steps to address persistent non-compliance,” including engaging underperforming institutions to help them identify and resolve weaknesses in their financial management structures.

The first set of rankings places several institutions in the “highly compliant” category, including the Environmental Protection Authority Ghana, Tema Oil Refinery, and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition Ghana.

Others in this top tier include the Ghana National Petroleum Commission, the Ministry of Finance Ghana, the Ghana AIDS Commission, and the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation.

Broad compliance across institutions

A larger number of institutions fall within the “compliant” category, including key agencies such as the Ghana Airports Company Limited, the Ghana Education Trust Fund, and the Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana.

Others listed include ministries and regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Health Ghana, Ministry of Transport Ghana, and the National Petroleum Authority Ghana, reflecting what the Ministry describes as general adherence to PFM requirements across a broad section of the public sector.

Moderate and weak compliance concerns

However, the League Table also highlights institutions with weaker levels of compliance.

Entities such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Health Service, and Metro Mass Transit Limited Ghana were classified as “moderately compliant,” suggesting gaps in adherence to financial management rules.

More concerning is the “least compliant” category, which includes major institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority, the University of Ghana, and the National Communications Authority Ghana. The inclusion of such high-profile institutions underscores persistent weaknesses in public financial management systems.

Enforcement and next steps

The Ministry signalled that the League Table will not only serve as a reporting tool but also drive enforcement.

It said it will “take firm steps to address persistent non-compliance,” including engaging institutions with low scores to help them identify and rectify weaknesses in their financial management systems.