Immigration Service gives two officers November 7 deadline to refund GH¢57,006 unearned salaries

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has given two officers until November 7, 2026, to refund up to GH¢57,006 in unearned salaries paid to them, warning that officials who authorised the payments could be held financially liable if the money is not recovered.

The issue emerged on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when the Service appeared before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to respond to financial irregularities identified in the Auditor-General's reports.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who led the delegation, identified the officers as Abida Zakaria and Abora Angelina and said they had been notified to repay the amounts.

He indicated that the ministry would pursue the officials who authorised the payments if the beneficiaries failed to meet the deadline.

New software to strengthen payroll controls

Mr Muntaka announced plans to introduce a new human resource management software system to improve staff transfers and salary validation within the Immigration Service.

He said personnel data was being uploaded to the system to ensure that officers who were transferred were promptly linked to their new management units.

According to the minister, delays in updating staff records sometimes resulted in supervisors at former stations continuing to validate salaries for officers who had already been reassigned.

In some instances, supervisors relied on information from colleagues at the receiving stations before discovering that an officer had resigned or absconded.

He said the proposed software was intended to address these administrative lapses and strengthen payroll controls.

GIS recovers GH¢24,900 in excess salary arrears

The committee also examined GH¢37,907 in excess salary arrears paid to seven Immigration Service officers, as identified in the Auditor-General's report.

Mr Muntaka told the committee that approximately GH¢24,900 had been recovered, leaving about GH¢12,900 outstanding.

He said efforts were underway to retrieve the balance but appealed for consideration regarding interest charges, particularly in cases involving newly recruited officers who might not have fully understood how their salary arrears were calculated.

The committee chairperson, however, argued that beneficiaries had a responsibility to question payments that appeared excessive, especially when they had received letters explaining their salary adjustments.

Mr Muntaka acknowledged the need for closer scrutiny of the procedures used to calculate and disburse salary arrears.

He also proposed that security agencies, including the GIS, Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service, be considered for self-accounting arrangements similar to those enjoyed by the Police Service.

He argued that granting the agencies greater financial autonomy could strengthen oversight and make payroll audits easier.

Former inspector given deadline to repay study-leave debt

The committee further examined efforts to recover GH¢206,085 from an Immigration Service inspector who reportedly resigned after spending four years on study leave with pay.

The Auditor-General had recommended that the amount, together with interest, be recovered after the officer allegedly failed to fulfil the applicable service obligations.

Mr Muntaka said the ministry had contacted the former officer, who had expressed willingness to repay the money. The officer was given until the end of October 2026 to settle the debt.

The minister warned that officials who authorised the study leave could be held financially responsible if the amount was not recovered from the former officer.

He added that the ministry had begun verifying compliance with study-leave requirements, including admission conditions and the submission of academic transcripts.

GH¢9,246 recovered from officer who failed to return from leave

The committee also questioned the Service over salary payments made to an officer, Modestus Komla Goloh, who failed to return from leave on August 27, 2024.

Despite his absence, the officer received GH¢7,737.68 in salary payments for September and October 2024.

Mr Muntaka told the committee that the money had been recovered with interest. A representative of the Auditor-General confirmed that GH¢9,246.26 had been repaid.