Kwasi Agyei, the Controller and Accountant General, has expressed concern over persistent salary-related infractions in the public sector, particularly within agencies under the Ministry of Education.
He warned that while recovery of lost funds is ongoing, the root causes of the problem must be addressed to prevent its recurrence. The issue was brought to public attention during a Public Accounts Committee hearing where several government agencies were cited for salary irregularities.
These included instances of unpaid salaries, overpayments, and disbursements to individuals who were on study leave. In some cases, allowances were reportedly paid to persons who had passed away.
Mr. Agyei stressed that although the Controller and Accountant General’s Department disburses funds, payments are made only after they have been validated and authorised by the relevant agencies. He argued that the responsibility for these irregularities lies with the validating officers.
“It is a worrying situation, but it appears that once the recovered salaries have been paid, then it is like we are happy. Indeed, we have recovered that money, but we have to go back to the root cause”
Kwasi Agyei, Controller and Accountant General
“Who caused it, validated and processed it for the money to be paid to the Controller and Accountant General?” He asked, maintaining that the act of recovering funds should not end the process of accountability.
According to him, efforts must be directed at identifying how the irregular payments were processed in the first place and those found guilty, held accountable by the law.
Identifying Accountability Gaps
The Controller and Accountant General emphasised that the department is determined to strengthen oversight mechanisms.
He said the intention is to ensure that payments made to public workers are properly validated and that officers who fail in their duty are held responsible.
“This is what we want – to go beyond just the recovery and go deep into the whole process,” Mr. Agyei said. He pointed out that this approach is vital for restoring integrity to the payroll system and for preventing a recurrence of irregularities that continue to burden the public purse.
The persistent salary infractions have raised wider concerns about financial management within the public sector. The Ministry of Education, where most of the irregularities have been detected, has come under particular scrutiny.
The matter has been flagged as a recurring challenge during audits, with accountability systems proving inadequate in preventing the losses.
While funds have often been recovered, analysts argue that the cost to the state extends beyond financial losses. Weaknesses in payroll validation and accountability undermine public trust and erode the efficiency of service delivery.
The Controller’s call for a deeper probe into the processes is expected to intensify discussions on how to strengthen payroll administration. With the government under pressure to curb wastage and improve fiscal discipline, the issue of salary infractions is likely to remain a key concern in public financial management.
Mr. Agyei’s insistence on addressing the accountability gaps highlights the urgency of structural reforms. As the Controller and Accountant General’s Department continues its recovery efforts, expectations remain high for more stringent measures to prevent future losses.
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