The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has dismissed a social media publication alleging that a senior civil servant at the Defence Ministry received unearned salaries totalling GH¢427 million over a 29-month period.

The report, attributed to “The Fourth Estate” and published on April 20, 2026, claimed the payments averaged more than GH¢14 million per month and suggested the figures were highlighted in a recent Auditor-General’s report covering January 2023 to June 2025.

In a response, the CAGD described the claims as misleading and defended the integrity of the government payroll system, insisting that strong controls and automated safeguards prevent such anomalies.

“The Government payroll system runs on controls and automations which allow only approved pay structures by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to be processed for employees eligible under their conditions of service,” the Department stated.

It further explained that salary payments are not processed without oversight from covered entities.

“Monthly salaries are paid to eligible employees on the Government of Ghana payroll after online validation of these payments by the Heads of the various Covered Entities.”

The CAGD added that additional internal checks are applied before payments are made.

“These monthly payments are further subjected to internal quality processes to validate each salary payment in terms of acceptable ranges with particular focus on monthly variances, validation of condition of service, above range analysis, validation of total payments to the bank, among others.”

On the basis of these controls, the Department insisted the allegation was not feasible.

“It is therefore impossible under the current payroll arrangement to pay a government employee salary in excess of what is legally due that employee,” it said.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department also urged caution in the dissemination of such claims, emphasising its willingness to engage in verification.

“The CAGD maintains an open-door policy, and we therefore expect that any such claims should be verified before publication.”

The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in public sector payroll accountability and ongoing scrutiny of government expenditure systems.