Forensic audit uncovers attempt to pay GH¢159M in already-settled teacher trainee allowances

A routine forensic audit has saved the state from a potential financial blunder involving over GH¢159 million in teacher trainee allowances, uncovering significant lapses in financial coordination between key government agencies.

The revelation was made in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, by the Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem. He detailed how the audit, conducted under the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), prevented what could have been a massive duplicate payment.

According to Mr. Nyarko Ampem, the Ministry of Education had initially flagged an outstanding allowance arrears for teacher trainees amounting to GH¢160 million. However, when auditors sought verification from GTEC, the commission confirmed that as of December 2024, no such arrears were owed to the trainees.

The investigation took a further turn when it was discovered that a sum of GH¢6.1 million had been slated for payment on the Bank Transfer Advices (BTA) schedule at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. Auditors found that this exact amount had already been fully settled by a donor partner.

“The discrepancy could have resulted in duplicate payments if it had not been detected during the audit process,” Mr. Nyarko Ampem told the House, highlighting a near-miss that would have cost the state millions.

The Deputy Finance Minister attributed the incident to weak financial monitoring and a breakdown in communication between government bodies and entities managing donor-funded programmes. “Such inconsistencies expose weaknesses in financial monitoring and coordination between government agencies and donor-funded partners,” he stated.

He emphasized that the findings serve as a critical warning, underscoring the urgent need for stronger oversight mechanisms. “We need improved collaboration between government institutions and development partners to prevent financial mismanagement within the education sector,” Mr. Nyarko Ampem added.

The successful audit not only averted a potential loss but has also reignited calls for more stringent financial controls to safeguard public funds.