🇬🇭GhanaWest Africa
Auditor-General apologizes to Kpodo over erroneous GH¢427m payroll fraud claim
via GhanaWeb5 min read
Ghana's Audit Service has issued an apology to Frank Oliver Kpodo, former Procurement Director at the Ministry of Defence, after mistakenly linking him to a GH¢427 million payroll fraud case. The error originated from findings in the Auditor-General’s Nationwide Payroll Audit, covering January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025, which incorrectly cited Kpodo. The Audit Service clarified on April 21, 2026, that the GH¢427,995,661.40 figure was a "transpositional error" and actually pertained to the Ministry of Education, involving 3,476 unaccounted staff. Kpodo, now Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, had previously appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on March 31, 2026, for separate allegations concerning falsified documents in a GH¢4.8 million deal. He had denied the payroll fraud allegations, stating his salaries were processed correctly and he was unaware of any irregularities.
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The New Patriotic Party NPP has accused the Mahama administration of attempting to use the conviction of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, as a political "trophy." In a statement dated July 20, 2026, the NPP argued that Wontumi's conviction should not be celebrated as proof of the government's commitment to fighting illegal mining, claiming that similar allegations involving individuals linked to the governing National Democratic Congress NDC have not received the same attention. The party alleged selective application of justice, questioning why investigations into illegal mining activities involving some NDC officials have not progressed with similar urgency. The NPP stated that the prosecution failed to provide evidence that Wontumi unlawfully assigned or transferred his mineral concession, asserting that the conviction was based on assumptions rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Describing the judgment as a "travesty of justice," the NPP announced that its legal team had begun the process of appealing the High Court’s decision and reaffirmed its support for Chairman Wontumi, maintaining he was wrongfully convicted and calling him a "political prisoner."
The government has unveiled the Teacher Dabre Initiative, a plan to construct 50,000 housing units nationwide to alleviate accommodation challenges for teachers, particularly those in rural areas. Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced this on July 20, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series. The program will be implemented through a decentralized approach, with the District Assemblies Common Fund leading efforts at regional and district levels. The Ministry of Education will secure additional funding, and the government is considering using pension fund resources under the Ghana Secondary School Pension GSOP as collateral. In addition to housing, the government is finalizing a financial incentive, a 20% allowance, for teachers who accept postings to rural and hard-to-reach areas. These initiatives aim to enhance teachers' working and living conditions and address the challenge of attracting and retaining qualified educators in rural communities, reinforcing the government's commitment to teacher welfare for improved education quality.
Must ReadPrivate legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has characterized the 20-year prison sentence given to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, as a "victory for Ghana." Speaking on Asempa FM, Kpebu clarified that the conviction was based on evidence, not solely a confession. He explained that assigning mineral rights or giving out land without proper written approval constitutes an offense under Ghana's mining laws. Kpebu emphasized that the court's judgment was supported by evidence presented during cross-examination. He also noted that mining operators must follow established procedures for land reclamation, including working with the Minerals Commission. Kpebu expressed his expectation for more convictions of individuals involved in illegal mining. These comments follow Chairman Wontumi's sentencing to 20 years with hard labor after his conviction in an illegal mining case related to Akonta Mining Company Limited.