Don’t Mislead the Public on MOFA Funds – Samuel Huntor Back at Critics

Samuel Huntor, Media Liaison Officer to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has called on the public to separate facts from propaganda amid growing debate over alleged releases of funds to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

According to him, Ghana’s public procurement and payment system is governed by strict legal and financial procedures that make it impossible for funds to be released without meeting several statutory requirements.

Mr. Huntor explained that every government-funded project begins with parliamentary approval of the national budget, which allocates resources to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Before any procurement process can commence, the relevant sector minister must seek a Commitment Authorization from the Minister for Finance. He noted that under the amended Public Procurement Act, undertaking procurement without such authorization constitutes an offence.

He further stated that obtaining a Commitment Authorization does not automatically permit procurement activities to begin.

Ministries and agencies must first secure the necessary requisitions or purchase orders before proceeding with procurement and contract awards. Contracts are then awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, after which contractors are expected to execute part or all of the agreed work before becoming eligible for payment.

According to Mr. Huntor, contractors seeking payment must submit requests supported by evidence of completed work, including pictorial documentation and other relevant records.

The sector ministry is required to verify the work and, if satisfied, issue and sign an Interim Payment Certificate (IPC). The certificate is subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for further assessment and validation.

The Ministry of Finance, he explained, conducts its own verification process before authorizing any payment. Once approved, instructions are sent to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, which then processes and pays the contractor in line with government financial regulations. Mr. Huntor stressed that these procedures are designed to ensure accountability and prevent unauthorized expenditure of public funds.

Addressing claims that 85 percent of MOFA’s 2026 budget had already been released, Mr. Huntor argued that such assertions would require clear evidence that all legal and administrative processes had been completed.

He also questioned reports that GHS110 million had been released for irrigation infrastructure when the approved allocation for the sector was reportedly GHS105 million.

Citing checks allegedly conducted with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, he maintained that no such release had been recorded and commended Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku for what he described as his restraint and professionalism in responding to the controversy.