OSP and CAGD report reveals how supposed staff of non-existent school in Kumbungu received salaries

A recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has disclosed scathing revelations about corrupt acts in government institutions.

The report was released on May 20, 2024 after the two institutions in November 2023 commenced investigations and corruption risk assessment in government agencies in the Northern Region.

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In the report, the corruption risk assessment conducted revealed that supposed staff a non-existent district school in Kumbungu has been receiving salaries for a number of years prior to the commencement of the investigation in Kumbungu.

The OSP said the school which name was not disclosed was represented as a staffed school on governments payroll system and the staff were receiving salaries.

The OSP believes that the data of the school was “artificially created” for regular payments.

“In one instance, it was discovered that DA Primary School in the Kumbungu District of Ghana Education Service did not exist at all. Yet, this non-existent contrived entity was represented as staffed and the purported staff were being validated monthly and being paid salaries.

“It is extremely worrisome that a non-existent entity had been designated as a functioning District Assembly Primary School and the data of the artificially created staff had found its way into the government payroll system for regular payments,” the report highlighted.

The report added that a total amount of GHC2,854,144.80 was was blocked by the Special Prosecutor after it was traced as representing unearned monthly salaries being paid to ‘Ghost Names’ from their respective effective dates to January 2024.

The OSP and CAGD noted that they aim at prosecuting persons who promoted the non-existent school; validated deceased, untraceable, and retired persons and persons who have vacated their posts.

The Special Prosecutor said it is taking steps to recover unearned salaries paid in respect of deceased, untraceable, and retired persons and persons who have vacated their posts.