PAC orders recovery of GH₵18,260 unearned salary from District Education Officer who processed payment

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has ordered the recovery of GH₵18,260.82 in unearned salaries paid to a former staff member of Bassa Senior High School, directing that the amount be refunded by the Sene East District Education Officer who authorised the payments.

The directive stems from findings in the Auditor General’s report, which identified irregular salary disbursements made to the school’s former Principal Superintendent, Mr Isaac Okwanpah.

According to the report, Mr Okwanpah had already vacated his position but continued to receive salaries from November 2023 to February 2024, resulting in the overpayment.

School authorities informed the Committee that attempts to retrieve the funds directly from the former officer had not been successful.

As a result, the Committee reassigned liability to the District Education Officer who validated the payments.

Presiding over the sitting, Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, issued a firm directive for the amount to be refunded within 30 days.

“The person at the District who validated this man should pay this amount of money within 30 days and then he can go after Mr Okwanpah for his money. This person is still at the District Office, and he will probably go to Accra for promotion,” he stated.

The order forms part of the Committee’s intensified efforts to strengthen payroll oversight and eliminate irregular salary payments within the public sector.