Audit Service Corrects Payroll Report Error, Apologises to Public Servant
The Ghana Audit Service has issued a formal correction to its Auditor-General’s report on the Nationwide Payroll Audit, clarifying that a widely cited figure of GH¢427.99 million attributed to a public servant was the result of a transpositional error.
In a press release, the Service acknowledged with “grave concern” a media publication that named Mr. Frank Oliver Kpodo as having received an unearned salary of GH¢427,995,661.40 in the audit covering the period January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.
The Audit Service explained that the amount in question does not relate to Mr. Kpodo but rather to the Ministry of Education, representing unaccounted payments linked to 3,476 staff identified during the payroll audit exercise.
“We wish to state that the amount attributed to Mr. Kpodo above was due to a transpositional error,” the statement said, effectively clearing the public servant of any wrongdoing.
The Service offered an unreserved apology to Mr. Kpodo for the distress and public scrutiny the error may have caused, noting that the misreporting had subjected him to unwarranted attention.
It also extended apologies to the Government of Ghana, the general public, and the Controller and Accountant-General for the mistake.
The correction comes amid heightened public interest in payroll integrity and public sector accountability, with the Auditor-General’s reports often serving as a key tool in identifying irregularities and strengthening financial oversight.
The clarification is expected to restore confidence in the accuracy of the audit findings, while also highlighting the need for meticulous data handling in public financial reporting.
