Six convicted in ghost payroll scandal as OSP recovers over GH¢106K in Tamale

The High Court in Tamale has convicted six individuals for their involvement in a payroll fraud scheme within the Ghana Education Service (GES), marking a significant win for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in its fight against public sector corruption.

The convicts—comprising school administrators, payroll officers, and accountants—were found guilty of manipulating the payroll system to unlawfully reactivate and validate the salary of a teacher who had vacated their post. This fraudulent activity led to the wrongful disbursement of over GH¢86,000 in state funds.

In a statement released on May 15, the OSP confirmed that the convictions were secured through plea bargains, resulting in full restitution of the embezzled funds along with additional reparation. The total amount recovered now stands at GH¢106,319.64.

The OSP noted that the successful prosecution was part of its broader crackdown on payroll-related corruption, and further revealed that additional suspects remain under active investigation.

Currently, six other criminal trials are ongoing in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, as the OSP ramps up efforts to prosecute individuals accused of defrauding the state.

The Office emphasized its continued commitment to holding corrupt public officials accountable and safeguarding public resources from systemic abuse.