The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has confirmed the dismissal of two of its employees who presented “fake certificates” to gain employment at the Central Bank.
In a press statement issued by the Bank of Ghana in Accra, the Bank of Ghana indeed admitted to sacking the said employees. However, it rebuffed the reports suggesting that 90 percent of its recently recruited staff were found to have presented fake certificates, noting that the report was “not true.”
“The Bank of Ghana has taken note of a news item circulating on social media on recent dismissals by the Bank of Ghana.
“The statement circulating on social media is twisted to misinform the general public. It is not true that 90 percent of recently recruited staff were found to have presented fake certificates.”
BoG
The Central Bank thus, stated that the two staffs involved have their appointments terminated.
“Rather, the incident being referred to involves two (2) members of staff whose appointments were terminated for providing fake certificates as part of their employment documentation.”
BoG
The Central Bank averred that it was part of its due diligence even post employment that led to detections of such fake academic or professional certificates.
“As part of due diligence processes during and post recruitment, those found to have presented forged documentation (including academic and professional certificates) are either dropped from the recruitment process or their services terminated if already on-boarded and on probation.”
BoG
The Bank of Ghana further noted that dismissals are part of human resource management. The Bank, therefore, urged the public not to create bad image for the bank through bad reportage.
“The Bank of Ghana wishes to put on record that dismissals are a regular Human Resources management function for staff whose conduct is unsatisfactory or have committed an offence, as stipulated in the Bank’s handbook on Human Resource Policies.”
BoG
However, it is unknown if the Bank of Ghana will take legal actions against the culprits since using fake certificate to secure employment is against the laws of the country.
Use of Fake Certificates on the Rise
It can be recalled that 13 people were convicted for possessing fake certificates in March 2013.
In another incident, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a joint operation with the Ghana Police Service in 2020, apprehended Mohammed Yousif, acting Managing Director of D&Y Industries Limited, for allegedly using a forged EPA certificates.
A recent payroll audit by the auditor General uncovered widespread use of fake certificates by public workers.
The Deputy Auditor General, George Winful, described the situation as worrying after he discovered that many more civil servants have been receiving salaries based on fake promotions and fake certificates. He therefore, urged heads of institutions to be meticulous in how they recruit people into the public service.
“If the signals we are beginning to see are anything to go by, then we will encourage heads of institutions in their review of employees. We have had an instance where some employees have used other people’s certificates for employment.”
George Winful
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