GES Payroll Scandal: Six Convicted in Ghost Salary Fraud
GES Payroll Scandal: Six Convicted in Ghost Salary Fraud, Over GH₵106,000 Recovered
Six people involved in a fraudulent payroll scheme that embezzled money from the Ghana Education Service (GES) were found guilty by the High Court in Tamale in a historic decision intended to combat corruption in Ghana’s public sector. GH₵106,319.64 has been fully recovered as a result of the convictions, which were obtained through the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) plea negotiating framework.
In the case, a group of public employees and education officials, including a former teacher who had long since left his position, used payroll system manipulation to send paychecks to fictitious names. Payroll officers, school administrators, and financial technicians are among the prominent individuals convicted, underscoring the degree of coordination that made the fraudulent activities possible.
The individuals found guilty are:
Tahidu Yakubu, a former teacher at Balogu M/A Junior High School (JHS) in Yendi;
Abdulai Abubakar Sadic, IPPD Coordinator for the Yendi Municipality;
Sammy Suuk, Schools Improvement Support Officer (SISO) for the Yendi North Circuit;
Mohammed Yusif Jay, former Headmaster of Balogu JHS;
Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, Assistant Chief Account Technician at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, Accra;
Osman Issahaku, current Headmaster of Balogu JHS and the school’s salary validator.
A teacher who was no longer employed had GH₵86,000 in wages improperly disbursed as a result of their concerted efforts. However, the OSP’s intervention has allowed for the effective recovery of the entire sum as well as other case-related money. The OSP’s broader campaign against corruption in Ghana’s public sector relating to payroll includes this case.
The Office said that six more criminal trials are presently taking place in Tamale, Accra, and Kumasi, among other major cities. The convictions strengthen the OSP’s mission to maintain integrity in public service and send a strong message about the negative effects of corruption. As Ghana steps up efforts to clean up its payroll systems and safeguard public cash, more people involved in similar schemes are anticipated to face justice as investigations proceed.
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