The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwesi Agyei, has announced that government plans to reduce the payment period for contractors from 90 days to just 15 days after the submission of completion certificates by January 2026.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Annual Conference of the African Association of Accountants-General (AAAG) in Accra, Mr. Agyei described the move as central to rebuilding public trust, which he referred to as a vital form of national capital.

“Payment time is maybe contracted in just 15 days, but ours is 90 days, and we are supposed to arrive in January,” he said, adding that effective Public Financial Management (PFM) systems are essential for plugging revenue leakages and boosting efficiency.

Africa adopts landmark Accra Resolution


The 2025 AAAG Conference concluded with the adoption of the Accra Resolution—a sweeping reform blueprint aimed at tackling corruption, rising public debt, and weak financial governance across the continent.

The resolution outlines coordinated reforms including:


  • Deployment of Artificial Intelligence in treasury and financial management

  • Full transition to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)

  • Strengthening fiscal responsibility frameworks

  • Conducting regular Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSAs)

  • Implementing national strategies to curb illicit financial flows (IFFs), which cost Africa an estimated US$88.6 billion annually

Public Financial Management was described as the “nervous system of government,” requiring urgent reinforcement to support stability and development.

Calls for ethical leadership and technology reforms


Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darko, Head of the Office of the Civil Service, underscored the importance of ethical leadership and institutional trust, lamenting the persistence of outdated mindsets.

“Patriotism will not take you to the market,” he said, stressing that trust underpins national progress.
He also revealed that government is considering a major overhaul—or complete replacement—of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to improve transparency and accountability.

Mr. Agyei warned that the country’s debt servicing burden, which consumes more than 50 percent of government revenue, threatens critical development programmes and anti-poverty initiatives.

The Accra Resolution establishes a mandatory annual reporting mechanism requiring countries to update the AAAG on reform progress, particularly IPSAS implementation. A detailed Continental PFM Reform Roadmap for 2026–2030 will also be developed.

However, Dr. Aggrey-Darko cautioned that reforms will remain ineffective without strong implementation. “A vision not translated into action remains merely a vision,” he said.