The Ghana Education Service (GES) has come under scrutiny after the Auditor-General’s report cited several infractions within the institution, ranging from unearned salaries to wrongful staff placements and unjustified allowance payments.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday August 22, 2025, officials of the Service, together with the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, admitted to the irregularities but assured that measures are being put in place to recover lost funds and prevent future occurrences.
According to the Committee the audit report disclosed that some officers were placed on the wrong grades, others received salaries they were not entitled to, while certain staff continued to enjoy responsibility allowances even though they did not perform any additional duties.
In one specific case, PAC directed GES to retrieve over GHC29,000 wrongfully paid to two teachers in the Jirapa District within 30 days.
However, officials disclosed that both teachers had left the country before the anomaly was detected, complicating recovery efforts.
“We stopped the payments immediately we discovered it and reported the matter to the police. We continue to make efforts to trace them, and I believe very soon we will recover the overpaid salaries,” a GES district officer told the committee.
Another instance from the Lambussie District revealed that eight staff members, who were not assigned any extra responsibilities, were still being paid responsibility allowances totaling GHC55,816.
The Committee also raised concerns about a case in Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, where a teacher, who has no disability, received almost GHC18,000 in disability transport allowances over three years.
When questioned, the district accountant admitted the teacher had no knowledge of how he was placed under the category of “fiscally challenged.”
Responsibility for validating such allowances, the Committee was told, rests with the head of the school and the SISU.
Responding to the revelations, Dr. Apaak and the GES Director-General assured the Committee that corrective steps are being taken.
“These infractions will be addressed going forward,” they pledged.
The Auditor-General’s findings have once again highlighted systemic lapses within the GES, prompting calls for tighter oversight to safeguard public funds.
Source:Fiilafmonline/3News
