The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has disclosed that five lecturers sponsored to pursue doctoral studies abroad have failed to honour their bond agreements, leaving the institution with an outstanding debt of GH¢1.7 million.

Registrar Victoria Kumbuor revealed the details on Monday, January 12, during a sitting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, outlining steps being taken to recover the funds.

According to Ms Kumbuor, the debts are as follows: Ann-Shirley Appiatse – GH¢777,000; Julius Quarshie – GH¢524,000; Dr Hanson Addy – GH¢224,000; Afua Ataa Boakyewaa – GH¢230,000; and Christiana Osei Bonsu – GH¢38,700.

The debts arose from sponsorships granted with the understanding that the lecturers would return to serve GIMPA upon completing their PhD programmes. While all beneficiaries signed bonding agreements, some failed to return, prompting the institution to enforce recovery measures.

These include freezing entitlements of defaulting lecturers and their guarantors, such as provident fund and credit scheme benefits.

Ms Kumbuor emphasized that the measures are part of GIMPA’s efforts to protect public funds and ensure accountability in staff development programmes, noting that some amounts have already been recovered.