Six individuals have been convicted by the High Court in Tamale for their involvement in a payroll corruption scheme that exploited the Ghana Education Service (GES) system through the insertion of ghost names and fraudulent salary disbursements.
The convicts, comprising school administrators, payroll coordinators, and accounting personnel, admitted their guilt under the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) plea bargaining framework. As part of their plea agreement, they made full restitution and reparations to the state.
A statement released by the OSP on May 15, 2025, via its official Facebook page, confirmed that the convicted persons unlawfully reactivated and validated the salary of a teacher who had vacated his position. Their actions resulted in the wrongful payment of over GHS 86,000. However, the full amount has since been recovered, bringing total restitutions to GHS 106,319.64.
The OSP indicated that this case forms part of a wider investigation into systemic corruption within the public payroll system. According to the Special Prosecutor’s office, six additional criminal proceedings are currently ongoing in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi, with more suspects under scrutiny as part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at protecting public funds.
The convictions follow an announcement by the OSP on February 12, 2025, indicating that six public officials were to face prosecution for their roles in the payroll fraud. The officials, linked to both the GES and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD), were charged with corruption-related offenses.
Those convicted are:
Yakubu Tahidu – Former teacher, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi
Abdulai Abubakari Sadic – Integrated Personnel Payroll Database Coordinator, GES, Yendi
Sammy Suuk – Schools Improvement Support Officer, Yendi North Circuit
Mohammed Yusif Jay – Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi
Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres – Assistant Chief Accounts Technician, CAGD, Accra
Osman Issahaku – Headmaster, Balogu M/A Junior High School, Yendi
The investigation, which commenced in late 2023, was a collaborative effort between the OSP and the CAGD. Authorities say the probe into payroll-related irregularities will continue as they work to hold more individuals accountable and reinforce integrity within public service systems.
