The Audit Service of Ghana has issued a correction to its nationwide payroll audit report, clarifying that a previously reported amount of GHC 427,995,661.40 was wrongly attributed to a single public servant due to a transpositional error.
In a press release dated April 21, 2026, the Office of the Auditor-General explained that media reports had cited Mr. Frank Oliver Kpodo as having received the amount as unearned salary based on the Auditor-General’s report covering the period from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
However, the Audit Service stated that the figure does not relate to Mr. Kpodo. Instead, it represents payroll discrepancies linked to the Ministry of Education, specifically involving 3,476 unaccounted-for staff identified during the audit.
The Service described the error as a transpositional mistake and issued an unreserved apology to Mr. Kpodo for the distress and public scrutiny caused by the misreporting.
It also extended apologies to the Government of Ghana, the general public, and the Controller and Accountant-General for the error.
Background:
The Auditor-General’s nationwide payroll audit was conducted to identify irregularities, including ghost names and unearned salaries across public sector institutions. The report, which has been widely discussed in the media, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial management and ensure accountability in government payroll systems.
The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in the findings of the audit, particularly concerns over payroll fraud and inefficiencies within state institutions.
