The auditor-general has issued an apology after a major error in its nationwide payroll audit report wrongly linked a public servant to an unearned salary exceeding GH₵427 million.
The clarification follows the nationwide payroll audit covering the period January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, after a media report cited Frank Oliver Kpodo as having received GH₵427,995,661.40 in unearned salary. The figure was first highlighted in a report by The Fourth Estate, which suggested that Mr. Kpodo received an average of more than GH¢14 million monthly in unearned payments.
In a statement on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the auditor-general said the figure resulted from a transpositional error and did not relate to Mr. Kpodo. The office clarified that the amount was wrongly attributed during the compilation of the audit findings.
“The GH₵427,995,661.40 relates to the Ministry of Education in respect of 3,476 unaccounted staff during the payroll audit,” the statement said.
The auditor-general extended an apology to Mr. Kpodo, the government, citizens, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, acknowledging the impact of the error. The office emphasized the seriousness of the mistake and its implications for public trust and individual reputation.
“We extend our most sincere and unreserved apologies to Frank Oliver Kpodo for the distress and unwarranted public scrutiny this error may have caused.”
CAGD rejects claims of payroll irregularities
Meanwhile, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has rejected claims circulating on social media that a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defense received unearned salaries totaling GH¢427 million over 29 months. The department insisted that Ghana’s payroll system prevents such occurrences.
“The Government of Ghana payroll system runs on controls and automations that allow only approved pay structures by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to be processed for employees eligible by their conditions of service,” the department said.
The CAGD explained that salaries go through multiple layers of validation, including approvals by heads of covered entities and internal checks to prevent irregularities and overpayments. It noted that these mechanisms are designed to ensure accuracy and accountability within the public payroll system.
“Monthly salaries are paid to eligible employees on the Government of Ghana payroll after online validation… These monthly payments are further subjected to internal quality processes to validate each salary payment,” it added.
The auditor-general reiterated its commitment to accuracy and transparency in its reporting processes, stressing that corrective measures have been taken to address the error. The office also assured the public that systems will be strengthened to prevent similar occurrences in future audits.
