The 2022 Auditor-General report has revealed serious financial misconduct within the Greater Accra Regional Department of Urban Roads, implicating two account officers for embezzling GH¢1.9 million between January 2020 and March 2022.
The individuals involved include a former Greater Accra Regional Accountant and an accounting staff of the department.
According to the report, the Regional Accountant alone embezzled approximately GH¢1.6 million through fraudulent withdrawals. Additionally, both officers collectively collected total revenue of GH¢333,851 on separate occasions but failed to account for the revenue.
The financial discrepancies were uncovered during the Auditor General's examination of public accounts of ministries, departments, and agencies.
The report stated, “Between January 2020 and March 2022, the department approved a total amount of GH¢214,730 for various activities, but the Regional Accountant altered the amounts on the various cheques, resulting in a fraudulent withdrawal of GH¢1,584,779.38.”
In light of these findings, the Auditor General recommended that the Acting Regional Director of the department promptly recovers the GH¢333,851.00 from the two staff members.
Furthermore, the report advised the recovery of the embezzled amount of GH¢1,584,779.38.
