OSP retrieved GHS 106,319.64, six officials convicted in Payroll Corruption Scandal

 

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has retrieved a total amount of GHS 106,319.64 in the ongoing investigations into the payroll corruption scheme involving ghost names and fraudulent salary payments within the Ghana Education Service.

According to the OSP, six officials have been convicted by the High Court in Tamale.

In a statement issued by the OSP said “Six individuals have been convicted by the High Court in Tamale for their roles in a payroll corruption scheme involving ghost names and fraudulent salary payments within the Ghana Education Service. The convictions followed guilty pleas entered under the OSP’s plea bargaining framework, leading to full restitution and reparation to the State.”

“The convicted persons include school administrators, payroll officers, and accountants who facilitated the illegal validation and reactivation of salaries for a teacher who had vacated his post. The accused faced 22 counts including corruption, false certification and causing financial loss to the state. Linked to investigations into government payroll administration. Their actions led to the wrongful payment of over GHS 86,000, all of which has now been recovered—bringing the total amount retrieved to GHS 106,319.64.” Part of the statement read.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor said they are working assiduously to arrest other suspects linked to the payroll corruption scandal.

“The Office is also pursuing several other suspects as part of a broader, ongoing investigation. The OSP currently has six other criminal trials ongoing in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi as it intensifies efforts to charge more individuals under investigation and safeguard public funds.” The statement said.

Below are names of the convicted persons:

1. Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres – (Assistant Chief Accounts Technician, CAGD, Accra)

2. Yakubu Tahidu – (Former teacher, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi)

3. Sammy Suuk – (School Improvement Support Officer, Yendi North Circuit)

4. Mohammed Yusif Jay – (Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi)

5. Abdulai Abubakari Sadic – (IPPD Coordinator, GES, Yendi)

6. Osman Issahaku – (Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi)

Source: Elvisanokyenews.net