Ex-Gaming Commissioner Ordered to Refund GHS414k Over Bond Breach – Muntaka

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has directed that former Gaming Commission boss, Peter Mireku, refund GHS414,590.53 to the state after negligence under his leadership led to a financial loss.

The issue came to light during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting in Accra on Tuesday, September 30, where the Minister disclosed that Mr. Mireku had failed to follow due process in approving a study leave with pay for one staff member, Moses Teye Mensah.

Mensah later resigned without serving the mandatory three-year bond, resulting in the loss.

“The commissioner was Peter Mireku, and on this particular instance, he did not follow the laid-down procedure for granting someone study leave with pay,” Mr. Muntaka said. “Because of this, I’m going to insist that he is invited to pay the money.”

The Minister explained that proper procedures — such as requiring semester results and maintaining clear documentation — were overlooked, enabling Mensah to walk away from his bond obligations after completing his studies on January 30, 2025.

He outlined three actions to be taken:

1. Peter Mireku will be made to refund the full amount.

2. The bond guarantor, a current staff of the Gaming Commission, will pay part of the money.

3. Moses Teye Mensah will be placed on a stop list and arrested if he returns to Ghana until the money is repaid.

Acting Gaming Commissioner, Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo, revealed that several attempts had been made to recover the funds from Mensah, but without success.

“He responds, claiming he is pursuing another Master’s degree, but has not provided any details or transcripts. He keeps tossing the Gaming Commission,” Mr. Quainoo said.

He added that the GHS414,590.53 loss was substantial, representing nearly half of the Commission’s monthly salary bill. The matter has since been escalated to the Attorney-General, the Inspector General of Police, and now the Interior Minister for enforcement.