[Ghana] Firm action against officers responsible for payroll infractions

In Ghana, Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has announced the government’s intention to take firm action against officials responsible for payroll infractions, 3News reports.

Mr Ampem said the long-standing practice of paying allowances and salaries to individuals who have not worked must stop immediately.

The deputy minister’s comments came during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on August 25.

He said, “We’re going to expose and deal with officers who validate people who have not worked for salaries and allowances yet continue to enjoy such benefits.”

The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Agyei, reportedly announced that his office is partnering with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the infractions highlighted in the report.

“We’re working with security agencies like the OSP to investigate the audit report and sanction persons culpable for overpayment of salaries and unearned allowances,” he said.

Mr Agyei also stated that the recovery of funds alone was not enough.

“My issue is we shouldn’t just end at recovery because we realised that we were happy when they said recovered, then we tick. We should go beyond recovery. The audit report will definitely indicate the recipients and their staff ID. We are working in collaboration with other security agencies, including the OSP.

“There is an audit trail. We can go straight into the system and identify who actually, on that particular day, processed the allowance. It is very easy to do. Once we get that, we will exercise patience, and through investigations, those culpable will be brought to book.”

The PAC reportedly raised concerns over the high number of financial irregularities cited in the Auditor-General’s report, including unearned salaries, responsibility allowances paid to undeserving staff, and overpayment of wages.

Source: 3News

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Ghana, Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has announced the government’s intention to take firm action against officials responsible for payroll infractions, 3News reports.

Mr Ampem said the long-standing practice of paying allowances and salaries to individuals who have not worked must stop immediately.

The deputy minister’s comments came during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on August 25.

He said, “We’re going to expose and deal with officers who validate people who have not worked for salaries and allowances yet continue to enjoy such benefits.”

The Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Agyei, reportedly announced that his office is partnering with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the infractions highlighted in the report.

“We’re working with security agencies like the OSP to investigate the audit report and sanction persons culpable for overpayment of salaries and unearned allowances,” he said.

Mr Agyei also stated that the recovery of funds alone was not enough.

“My issue is we shouldn’t just end at recovery because we realised that we were happy when they said recovered, then we tick. We should go beyond recovery. The audit report will definitely indicate the recipients and their staff ID. We are working in collaboration with other security agencies, including the OSP.

“There is an audit trail. We can go straight into the system and identify who actually, on that particular day, processed the allowance. It is very easy to do. Once we get that, we will exercise patience, and through investigations, those culpable will be brought to book.”

The PAC reportedly raised concerns over the high number of financial irregularities cited in the Auditor-General’s report, including unearned salaries, responsibility allowances paid to undeserving staff, and overpayment of wages.

Source: 3News

(Quotes via original reporting)