The High Court in Tamale has convicted six individuals for their roles in a payroll corruption scheme involving ghost names and fraudulent salary payments within the Ghana Education Service (GES).
They were convicted after pleading guilty under the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s plea bargaining framework, leading to full restitution and reparation to the State.
The convicted persons include school administrators, payroll officers, and accountants who facilitated the illegal validation and reactivation of salaries for a teacher who had vacated his post.
A statement issued on May 15, 2025 by the Special Prosecutor said their actions led to the wrongful payment of over GHS 86,000, all of which has now been recovered—bringing the total amount retrieved to GHS 106,319.64.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) also confirmed that it is pursuing several other suspects as part of an ongoing broader investigation.
The OSP says currently, six other criminal trials are ongoing in Accra, Tamale, and Kumasi as it intensifies efforts to charge more individuals under investigation and safeguard public funds.
On February 12, 2025, the Special Prosecutor announced that six government officials will be prosecuted for their involvement in a payroll fraud scheme that siphoned funds through fake salary payments.
The suspects, who served in various capacities within the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) were charged with corruption of a public officer and corruption by a public officer.
At a press conference on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that the criminal charges have been filed at the High Court in Tamale. The accused include:
- 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