Government expenditures directly affect the lives of each Ghanaian citizen and determine the quality of social services, education, health, and infrastructure. The effectiveness and openness of the public money allocation process determine the degree of the country’s development and financial stability. Poor financial accountability may cause corruption, mismanagement, and abandoned projects, which are all obstacles to development.

Despite its significance, many citizens remain unaware of how public funds are allocated and utilised. This knowledge gap limits civic participation and weakens efforts to hold policymakers accountable. Monitoring government spending is not solely the responsibility of economists, policymakers, and journalists; it is also a civic duty that all Ghanaians should embrace. With the appropriate tools and knowledge, citizens can demand transparency and accountability,influence policy and ensure that public resources are used effectively.

What are some practical ways to track government spending in Ghana?

1. Follow the National Budget and Expenditure Reports

The national budget is a plan of government’s spending that maps out projected revenues and expenditure priorities over a fiscal year. The budget however can only succeed if only citizens monitor its implementation keenly to ensure that government expenditure is in line with the predetermined budget allocations. 

How to Access Budget Information:

• The Ministry of Finance publishes Ghana’s budget annually on its official website. Citizens can access these documents to track sectoral allocations and priority projects.
• The Auditor-General’s reports provide independent assessments of how government funds are utilised, revealing inefficiencies and financial mismanagement.
• Civic Organisations like BudgIT Ghana simplify budget data into accessible formats, offering visualized reports and community engagement programs to educate the public.

Why It Matters:

Monitoring budget performance ensures that public funds are spent as planned. Comparing actual expenditure with allocated amounts can reveal patterns of waste, misallocation, or underutilization. Countries with greater citizen participation in budget monitoring tend to be less corrupt and enjoy more efficient service delivery.

2. Use Digital Platforms to Monitor Projects

Digital technology has made it easier for citizens to track public projects and expenditure in real-time. Civic tech platforms provide access to open data, maps, and dashboards that promote transparency and public oversight.

What You Can Do:

• Visit government and civic tech platforms such as BudgIT Ghana’s Tracka or the Ghana Open Data Initiative, which provide dashboards on public spending.
• Compare allocated funds with project timelines and actual progress.
• Use digital tools to report discrepancies, such as incomplete roads, abandoned hospitals, or over-budgeted projects.
• Share findings on social media to raise awareness and drive public discourse.

The Impact of Digital Transparency:

Research has indicated that digital transparency initiatives, including open budget portals, considerably decrease corruption by enhancing public scrutiny and discouraging financial mismanagement.

3. Attend Public Budget Hearings and Town Hall Meetings

Participation by citizens in town hall meetings and public hearings on the budget gives citizens direct contact with government representatives and decision-makers. These forums present citizens with the opportunity to ask pertinent questions, raise concerns, and lobby for community interests.

Why This Matters:

• It fosters direct accountability, as government officials must respond to public inquiries.
• Citizens can highlight underfunded sectors or neglected projects.
• Community engagement helps shape policy priorities and ensure that budgets reflect actual needs.

Most of Ghana’s local assemblies conduct annual budget hearings, but public attendance is often sparse. Increased civic engagement in these sessions could improve fiscal accountability and service delivery.

Studies on participatory budgeting in Africa show that citizens’ active involvement results in better use of resources and increased citizen trust in government institutions.

4. Report Irregularities and Demand Investigations

Corruption and financial mismanagement thrive when there is a lack of oversight. Citizens must play an active role in reporting financial irregularities, such as ghost projects, inflated contracts, and misappropriation of funds.

Where to Report Issues:

• The Ghana Audit Service investigates cases of public financial mismanagement.
• The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) addresses corruption complaints and enforces accountability measures.
• Civic organizations such as BudgIT Ghana track irregularities and advocate for policy reforms.

The Power of Whistleblowing

Whistleblower reports have previously resulted in landmark investigations and policy change. A global study carried out by the World Bank discovered that public sector corruption was reduced by 15% where complaints from citizens were carefully investigated.

Through whistleblowing against mismanagement, Ghanaians can promote transparency and accountability to ensure national resources are used in accordance with public interest.

5. Educate and Mobilize Others to Take Action

A well-informed society is a powerful tool against corruption and wasteful spending. Educating friends, family, and colleagues about government budgets and expenditure tracking is imperative as it strengthens collective efforts to demand accountability.

Ways to Spread Awareness:

• Share simplified budget data and audit reports on social media platforms.
• Organize or join community groups focused on government transparency.
• Engage with civic organizations like BudgIT Ghana to learn more about tracking public finances.
• Use local radio and television discussions to amplify issues of fiscal responsibility.

Research shows that countries with higher civic awareness and financial literacy have significantly lower corruption rates and better governance outcomes.

BudgIT Ghana is committed to promoting fiscal transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. Through data-driven advocacy, innovative civic technology tools, and grassroots engagement, we empower Ghanaians to monitor government spending and demand accountability from public officials. To facilitate public engagement, we have introduced fact-checking tools like Dubawa, Africa Check and Foto-forensics as well as our Tracka website, where we track government projects across the country. 

It is the shared responsibility of every citizen to see to it that public money is spent responsibly. Ghanaians can actively promote transparency and accountability in governance by tracking government spending, leveraging digital technologies, attending budget hearings, reporting anomalies, and educating others.

Together, we can build a more transparent and accountable Ghana, ensuring that public funds are managed responsibly and serve the interests of all citizens. Public funds belong to us, the people, let us ensure that the government spends our money wisely.