A total of Ghc 55,962.62 unearned salaries have been paid to undeserving individuals by three departments under the Local Government and Rural Development Ministry resulting in the cause of financial loss to the country.
The Parks and Gardens Department for instance paid a total of Ghc 29,959.31 to wrong individuals across the country, Births and Deaths Department also paid Ghc 24,554 whiles the Local Government Service Secretariat paid Ghc 1,449.96 to persons who were either transferred to different departments or have vacated their posts but yet still earned salaries which paid into their accounts.
It was disclosed that some of these individuals withdrew their unearned salaries from the banks whiles outside the country.
This came to light during the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament`s sitting to probe the status of implementation of the Audit recommendation of 2011, 2012 and 2013 Auditor General’s Report on the Department of Parks and Gardens, Births and Deaths Registry and Local Government Service Secretariat all under the Ministry.
Some of these monies have however been retrieved and paid into the Consolidated Fund by the Ministry.
Members of the Public Accounts Committee expressed grave concerns about the general lack of responsibility, due diligence and supervision on the part of Public servants towards the protection of the national purse that results in the payment of unearned salaries and other unlawful payments.
The committee urged civil servants to jealously guard the national kitty as though it were their own to help in the development efforts of the country.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Kweku Agyemang Manu, adviced the minister to employ the services of the Police to help retrieve all monies that were illegality paid to the wrong individuals.
A deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Emmanuel Agyekum, assured the committee that the ministry would adopt right measures including the use of the police to retrieve the rest of the monies from those culpable.
By CHRISTIAN KPESESE
