Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Agyei has reaffirmed that all government institutions will fully transition to secure electronic payment systems by the first quarter of 2026, a move aimed at strengthening transparency and efficiency in public financial management.

Mr. Agyei made the announcement on Thursday, November 20, during a consultative meeting in Accra with Managing Directors of commercial banks on the rollout of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the GhIPSS Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) initiative.

The engagement focused on deepening collaboration with banks, addressing outstanding implementation concerns, and ensuring all stakeholders are adequately prepared for the nationwide integration.

Highlighting ongoing challenges, Mr. Agyei noted that many Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and local government authorities still rely on manual cheques, despite the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921) designating GIFMIS as the authorised platform for managing public funds.

He warned that the continued use of manual cheques exposes government finances to fraud risks, complicates reconciliation processes, and undermines operational efficiency.

“Failure to use the GIFMIS platform undermines integrity and transparency in financial management and affects the timely generation of financial reports for decision-making and preparation of the national accounts,” he said.

Mr. Agyei described the elimination of manual cheques and the shift to electronic payments as essential to modernising public financial management.

“This initiative is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a transformative step toward strengthening accountability and efficiency in the management of public funds. Transitioning to electronic payments through secure platforms such as GIFMIS and GhIPSS is therefore both timely and essential, he said.

He added that meeting the 2026 deadline would significantly enhance accountability, improve efficiency, and boost public confidence in government financial operations.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) indicated that sensitisation and training programmes for government agencies will continue ahead of the full rollout.

Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, reaffirmed the Central Bank’s commitment to payment system digitisation. She said the integration of GIFMIS and GhIPSS would enhance monitoring, strengthen accountability, and urged commercial banks to support MDAs and MMDAs in meeting the transition timeline.