The High Court in Tamale has convicted six individuals in connection with a payroll corruption scandal within the Ghana Education Service (GES), following their guilty pleas under the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) plea bargaining framework.
The convicted individuals—comprising school administrators, payroll officers, and accountants—admitted to illegally validating and reactivating salary payments for a former teacher who had exited the public education system. The scheme resulted in unauthorized payments totaling GHS 86,000.
According to court documents, full restitution has been made. The OSP confirmed that the misappropriated funds, along with additional penalties, have been recovered, bringing the total amount repaid to GHS 106,319.64.
“This conviction represents our ongoing commitment to protecting public funds,” said a spokesperson from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which led the investigation and prosecution. The spokesperson also noted that investigations are continuing, with additional suspects currently under scrutiny.
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The GES payroll case is one of several corruption prosecutions being pursued by the OSP, which is currently handling six other criminal trials in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi.
The plea bargaining arrangement, introduced as part of the OSP’s prosecutorial strategy, allows suspects to admit guilt in exchange for reduced sentencing and full restitution, streamlining the judicial process while ensuring recovery of stolen public funds.
The OSP has not disclosed the identities of other individuals under investigation, citing ongoing legal procedures.
This latest conviction underscores growing efforts to strengthen accountability mechanisms within Ghana’s public sector, particularly in areas involving payroll fraud and administrative abuse.
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