Six GES, CAGD officials to face trial over payroll fraud – OSP

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against six government officials for their alleged roles in a payroll fraud scheme involving fake salary payments.

The accused, who worked within the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), are charged with corruption of a public officer and corruption by a public officer.

At a press conference on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng confirmed that the case has been filed at the High Court in Tamale. The accused persons are:

• Yakubu Tahidu – Former teacher, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi
• Abdulai Abubakari Sadic – Integrated Personnel Payroll Database Coordinator, GES, Yendi
• Sammy Suuk – Schools Improvement Support Officer, Yendi North Circuit
• Mohammed Yusif Jay – Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi
• Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres – Assistant Chief Accounts Technician, CAGD, Accra
• Osman Issahaku – Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi

Investigation and findings

The investigation, which began in late 2023, was a collaborative effort between the OSP and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department. It included a corruption risk assessment and a payroll audit, initially piloted in the Northern Region. The audit targeted educational institutions and the Tamale Teaching Hospital to identify and remove ghost names, recover wrongful payments, and prosecute those responsible.

The six officials are accused of manipulating the payroll system to include non-existent employees and diverting public funds as salary payments to ghost workers.

Mr Agyebeng emphasized that the prosecution marks a significant step in tackling payroll fraud in Ghana’s public sector. He also indicated that more individuals could face prosecution as the investigations expand nationwide.

The accused are expected to appear before the High Court in Tamale in the coming days.