In a revealing session of the Public Accounts Committee, a Ghana Education Service (GES) officer admitted to receiving an overpayment of GHC 15,000 in salary, acknowledging, “Yes, I chopped the money.” The officer’s confession came after auditors flagged the discrepancy.
During the sitting, the officer detailed how he initially believed the overpaid amount was part of his legitimate earnings. “When I got the money, I thought it was my money until the auditors came in,” he explained. His acknowledgment of the error was candid but left the committee with concerns about his subsequent actions.
The committee questioned why the officer had stopped repaying the overpaid amount after initially committing to pay GHC 500 monthly. The officer attributed the halt in payments to a financial issue, citing an investment that would mature by the end of the month. “I promised that I’m having an investment, which will end this month,” he said. “If the money comes, I’ll try if I can pay everything off, or if I can pay part of it.”
The committee expressed understanding but urged the officer to fulfill his repayment obligation without undue strain. “We want you to pay the money, but don’t break the bank in paying the money,” the committee advised. They indicated that if the officer could settle the debt in full by the end of the month, it would be appreciated but emphasized that he should not be overburdened.
The officer committed to paying the remaining balance once his investment yields the anticipated returns. “I think that the promise that I have given is a reasonable promise,” he assured. The committee’s decision reflects a balanced approach, acknowledging the officer’s sincerity while ensuring accountability.
