2 Immigration officers who received unearned salaries of up to GH¢57,006 given Nov 7 deadline to refund

Two officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been given until November 7, 2026, to refund a total of GH¢57,006 in unearned salaries paid to them.

Officials who authorised the payments have also been warned that they could be held financially responsible if the money is not recovered from the beneficiaries by the deadline.

The issue emerged when the GIS appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to respond to queries arising from financial irregularities identified in the Auditor-General’s reports.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who led the delegation, identified the two officers as Abida Zakaria and Abora Angelina, confirming that they had been notified to refund the money.

He said the Ministry would pursue the officials who authorised the payments if the beneficiaries failed to comply with the directive.

Mr Muntaka announced plans to introduce a new human resource management software system to improve staff transfers, personnel records and salary validation within the Immigration Service.

He explained that data was being uploaded to the system, which is expected to ensure that officers are promptly linked to their new management units after being transferred.

According to the Minister, delays in updating personnel records sometimes leave supervisors at officers’ former stations responsible for validating their salaries even after they have moved to new postings.

In some instances, supervisors rely on information from colleagues at the receiving stations before discovering that an officer has resigned or absconded.

Mr Muntaka said the proposed system was intended to address these administrative weaknesses and strengthen controls over salary payments.

The committee also examined GH¢37,907 in excess salary arrears paid to seven Immigration Service officers, as identified in the Auditor-General’s report.

Mr Muntaka told the committee that approximately GH¢24,900 had been recovered, leaving an outstanding balance of about GH¢12,900.

He said the Ministry was pursuing the remaining amount but appealed for consideration regarding interest charges, particularly for newly recruited officers who might not have fully understood how their salary arrears were calculated.

The committee chairperson, however, argued that beneficiaries had a responsibility to question payments that appeared excessive, especially when they had received letters explaining adjustments to their salaries.

Mr Muntaka acknowledged the need for closer scrutiny of the procedures used to calculate and disburse salary arrears.

He also proposed that security agencies, including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service, be considered for self-accounting arrangements similar to those operated by the Ghana Police Service.

He argued that such arrangements could strengthen financial oversight and make payroll audits easier to conduct.

The PAC also examined the recovery of GH¢206,085 from a former Immigration Service inspector who reportedly resigned after spending four years on study leave with pay.

The Auditor-General had recommended that the amount, together with applicable interest, be recovered after the officer failed to fulfil the required service obligations.

Mr Muntaka said the Ministry had contacted the former officer, who had indicated a willingness to repay the money.

He added that the former officer had been given until the end of October 2026 to settle the debt.

The Minister warned that officials who authorised the study leave could also be held financially responsible if the money was not recovered from the former officer.

He said the Ministry had begun checking compliance with study-leave conditions, including admission requirements and the submission of academic transcripts, to ensure that officers meet their obligations.

In a separate case, the committee questioned the Immigration Service over salary payments made to officer Modestus Komla Goloh, who failed to return from leave on August 27, 2024.

Despite his absence, the officer received GH¢7,737.68 in salary payments for September and October 2024.

Mr Muntaka told the committee that the money had been recovered with interest.

A representative of the Auditor-General confirmed that GH¢9,246.26 had been paid.

The cases have renewed attention on payroll management, the recovery of public funds and accountability within Ghana’s security agencies, with the PAC scrutinising measures being taken to prevent irregular salary payments and recover amounts identified in audit reports.