AG’s 2024 report notes progress but some weaknesses persist

The Audit Office of Guyana, in its report for the fiscal year ending December 2024, has commended improvements in financial oversight across several government agencies, while identifying ongoing weaknesses in contract management, record-keeping and procurement practices.

The Report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of Guyana and on the Accounts of Ministries, Departments and Regions was laid in the National Assembly on Monday when the 13^th Parliament of Guyana convened.

The report reviewed hundreds of contracts, transactions and expenditure records, shedding light on both areas of progress and lapses in accountability.

According to the report, 829 contracts valued at $48.19 billion were examined during the period under review. Of these, overpayments amounting to $1.011 billion were identified across 86 contracts administered by several Ministries and Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

The report noted that all overpaid sums have since been recovered, either through repayments or by contractors completing outstanding works. This corrective action, the Audit Office said, is an encouraging sign of responsiveness from government agencies.

Among the Ministries and departments cited were the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Education, Health and Public Works, among others. Nine of the ten RDCs also recorded overpayments, with Region Five being the only region free of such findings.

While progress has been made in certain areas of public financial management, the Auditor General noted that 3,241 cheques totalling $4.92 billion remained on hand as at December 2024, pending refund to the Consolidated Fund. The issue of unpresented payment vouchers also persisted, with 120 vouchers valued at $877.2 million unavailable for audit review at the time of reporting.

The absence of these documents limited the ability of auditors to verify whether the funds were used for their intended purposes — a recurring issue the report suggests needs tighter internal control.

The Ministry of Health came under scrutiny for issues related to the procurement and management of drugs and medical supplies. The report found that while $10.29 billion worth of supplies were dispatched to the regions, there was no reconciliation between the items received and amounts warranted.

Additionally, outstanding deliveries valued at $3.6 billion were still pending as of September 2025, while expired drugs valued at $1.09 billion had been disposed of. Another $327.3 million worth of expired items remained on hand awaiting disposal.

In the area of revenue administration, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) continues to face challenges with staffing in its Petroleum Revenue Department and Customs Petroleum Unit. The GRA also reported ongoing difficulty in ensuring compliance among self-employed taxpayers, with tens of thousands of registrants still inactive despite continuous outreach and enforcement efforts.

The report highlighted major capital works under the Ministry of Agriculture, where $12.97 billion was allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation structures, including several new pump stations. As of September 2025, one pump station was completed while four others remained in progress.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was cited for not presenting financial statements for its Amerindian Purpose Fund, which received $480 million in 2024. A similar issue had been raised in the previous year.

Importantly, the Audit Office reported measurable progress in the government’s follow-up on past audit recommendations. Of the 179 recommendations made in 2023, 27% were fully implemented, 54% partially implemented, and 19% not implemented as of the 2024 review.

The Auditor General reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability, noting that while improvements are evident in several Ministries and Regions, consistent follow-through and stronger systems are needed to safeguard public resources and ensure value for money.