Parliament Accounts Officer cited in GH¢139K payroll irregularity

A serving Accounts Officer at Parliament has been linked to a GH¢139,710 payroll irregularity uncovered at the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly, prompting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to initiate steps to involve the Clerk of Parliament.

The development emerged during a PAC sitting on Monday, April 20, where Assembly officials responded to audit findings highlighting unearned salary payments flagged in the Auditor-General’s report.

According to the Assembly, the payments relate to three officers who were on secondment between 2022 and 2024 but continued to receive salaries improperly. Auditors subsequently recommended that the amounts be recovered from the individuals involved.

Assembly officials, however, told the Committee that attempts to retrieve the funds have not been successful, despite efforts to contact both the individuals and the institutions to which they were seconded.

The matter has drawn particular attention due to the status of one of the officers, who now works as an Accounts Officer at Parliament. The Assembly indicated that it had written to both the officer and the Clerk of Parliament but was yet to receive any response.

Members of the Committee raised concerns over the development and its implications, especially given the involvement of a current parliamentary staff member.

The Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta-Mills, subsequently directed that the Clerk of Parliament be formally notified to ensure proper follow-up and facilitate the recovery of the funds.