The Ghana Audit Service has unearthed some pension payment irregularities. It discovered an overstatement in pension payments totaling GH¢103,647, its 2009 annual audit report has indicated. Richard A. Asiedu, Assistant Auditor-General, who was speaking to journalists last week, said the Pensions Branch of the Audit Service revealed the amount was paid to 40 retired officers. He said the case has since been referred to the Controller & Accountant-General for the recovery of the money. “The Controller & Accountant-General has been asked to recover the overstatements in pension benefits payments to the 40 retired officers,” Mr Asiedu said. However, whether the irregularities were as a result of fraudulent claims by beneficiaries or as a result of non-beneficiaries falsifying, declaring and receiving money that was not supposed to be paid to them, are yet to be ascertained. The Assistant Auditor-General also hinted that the Payroll Unit has albeit saved the state money totaling GH¢7,114,373.47. The amount was revealed after the Payroll Unit certified 79 transactions comprising salary arrears, allowances and severance awards for 59 organizations and individuals in 2009. In line with enhancing accountability and timely stewardship of public funds, the Audit Service has over the years made startling revelations in its reports which it presented to parliament. Roberta Quarshie, Deputy Director, Commercial Audit Department, Audit Service, indicates that audits have positively impacted the operations of the audited bodies by mitigating the recurrence of irregularities in cash management, procurement, store management and inventory control. Source: Emelia Ennin/Business Guide