Accra: The Controller and Accountant General's Department (CAGD) has announced a collaboration with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate and prosecute individuals found culpable in payroll irregularities. This initiative follows concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament regarding financial irregularities, including unearned and overpaid salaries, as highlighted in the 2024 Auditor-General's report.
According to Ghana News Agency, Controller and Accountant-General Mr. Kwasi Agyei emphasized the importance of this collaboration in addressing payroll irregularities. He noted that the audit report identifies recipients and their staff IDs, allowing the CAGD to work with security agencies, including the OSP, to hold responsible parties accountable. Mr. Agyei made these remarks during a session where Mr. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, a Deputy Finance Minister, led various government bodies to address questions on the Auditor-General's report before PAC.
Mr. Agyei stated that this collaboration aims to promote accountability and transparency in managing public funds. He explained that the CAGD could easily identify perpetrators using the system's audit trail, ensuring that those responsible for irregularities are brought to justice. The PAC public hearing, which began on Monday, August 19, concluded on Monday, August 25, and is set to reconvene on Monday, September 29, to further examine the Auditor-General's report on MDAs for the year ending December 31, 2024. Madam Abena Osei Asare, Chairperson of PAC, announced this at the conclusion of the public hearing in Parliament House, Accra.
