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Crackdown on payroll fraud: PAC pushes for sanctions on validators

The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Abena Osei-Asare has underscored the need for the country to do more in its check and balance efforts to save the country's meager resources.

Date Created : 11/7/2025 : Story Author : Dominic shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

Commenting on the issue of unearned salaries which was one of the notable infractions recorded in the Auditor-General's 2024 report, she said the development "clearly tells us that we have a lot to do in the checks and balances at the various ministries, departments, and agencies".

She affirmed that the internal controls are not strong enough and in strengthening that it is imperative to work with the Controller and Accountant General.

According to her, the role of the Controller and Accountant General is critical because there are instances where even though they have informed the Accountant General, payments still persist. “So, it is a broad approach that we should use, where we engage not just the entity but the final maker of the payment and this is what we intend to do."

More importantly, she said there should be that effort at strengthening the internal audit systems in the various ministries, departments and agencies, adding that she is delighted that now the internal audit is under the Ministry of Finance where there would be more scrutiny of their works unlike the previously where the internal audit was under the Office of the President which is saddled with a lot of things, hence having a view into the works of the internal audit was a bit of a challenge. She added that the internal audit service needs to be given the needed strength to enforce their mandate in the various MDAs.

"When they also do their works well, I believe certain infractions that many were cited for including the unearned salaries will come down to the barest minimum.

Madam Abena Osei-Asare also advocates that, moving forward the focus should not only be on the individuals who receive the unearned salaries for sanction but should also include the officials who validate for the payment to be made; adding that the committee would be including that recommendation in their report for consideration. This, she believes will ensure people take the necessary precautions when validating persons for payment.

“I keep saying that the person did not pay himself; the person was validated before payment was effected. And so we're going to add that to our recommendations that it is not just the receiver of the unearned salary, but the person who made that process possible also has to be sanctioned. So that next time when you are checking and you are validating anybody, you take the necessary checks; yes, you take precaution to make sure you're doing the right thing, she emphasized.