Ghana’s education sector has been confirmed as one of the poorest performers in public financial management compliance, with the University of Ghana, the Ministry of Education, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment all ranked in the lowest tier of a new government assessment.
The findings were revealed by the Ministry of Finance through the Public Financial Management (PFM) Compliance League Table, which evaluated 101 public institutions on their adherence to the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and related financial regulations.
In total, 19 institutions were placed in the “Least Compliant” category, with the three education-linked bodies among those flagged for significant shortcomings.
However, the ministry explained that the rankings are intended as an objective, evidence-based benchmarking tool to strengthen accountability across the public sector.
“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 in the management and use of public resources,” the report noted.
The Ghana Education Trust Fund recorded a stronger performance, ranking 18th in the broader “Compliant” band. The wide gap in rankings highlights uneven financial management practices within the education sector.
The Ministry of Finance stated that it will work directly with all low-performing institutions through its PFM Compliance Division to identify gaps and implement corrective measures. The ministry cautioned that stricter enforcement actions will follow if improvements are not made.