🇬🇭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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An Accra High Court has dismissed an application to discharge former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others involved in an alleged GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering case. The Office of the Special Prosecutor announced on April 21, 2026, that the court rejected arguments from the defense counsel claiming the OSP lacked prosecutorial authority, citing a High Court ruling from April 15, 2026. The court acknowledged ongoing legal proceedings regarding the OSP's mandate and adjourned the case to May 26, 2026. The OSP maintains its powers are valid under existing laws. All 10 accused individuals and corporate entities have pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged scheme targeting Oil Marketing Companies and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies between 2022 and 2024. Dr. Abdul-Hamid is specifically accused of personally benefiting GH¢24 million from the alleged illicit enterprise.
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The Court of Appeal has rejected an application by lawyers for Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, to stop his ongoing criminal trial at an Accra High Court. The court ruled on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, that the application did not present sufficient exceptional circumstances to justify a stay of proceedings, allowing the substantive case to continue at the High Court. Chairman Wontumi's legal team had sought to suspend the trial pending the outcome of an appeal against an earlier decision. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal have now denied this request. Chairman Wontumi's lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, stated that the defense team is reviewing the ruling and considering options, including an appeal to the Supreme Court or proceeding with the defense at the High Court. Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining Limited face six charges related to allegedly permitting unlicensed mining activities on the company's concession without ministerial approval.
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