The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has uncovered massive corruption within the Ghana Education Service (GES), involving fake schools, forged appointments, and the validation of non-existent staff, commonly referred to as “ghost names”.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day West Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Policy Dialogue in Accra on Monday, 2nd June, the Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, called for stronger collaboration between institutional leaders and anti-corruption bodies to address the deepening challenge.

In his speech, Mr Agyebeng disclosed several corrupt practices in some institutions under investigation.

“I am glad that the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba, and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, and the Director-General of Governmental Services [are here]. The two of you have walked into an ongoing investigation,” Mr. Agyebeng said.

"All I am saying is that, in reference to your practice, in reference to corrupt actors, we are seeing unbelievable forms and new forms, which really are mitigating against education generally and health care.

"So, in your sector, we are finding officers claiming money and facilities for non-existent schools.

"In your sector, we are finding that people are carrying around laptops, and this is to caution. They may do so to you very soon. I am sorry I am saying this, publicly without first having told you.

With the Director-General’s signature on their laptops, giving out appointment letters on their laptops, wherever they go, and purporting to be appointing teachers, and pocketing deposits thereof.

“We are finding people carrying laptops with the Director-General’s signature on their laptops, giving out appointment letters on their laptops, giving out appointment letters wherever they go and purporting to be appointing teachers,” he said.

“In your sector, that’s because we have done more work in your sector than in the other sector. In your sector, we are finding that health teachers are validating non-existent persons for payment of salaries.

“And so, you would recall that two weeks ago in the High Court in Tamale, 6 persons were convicted on their own plea, in a plea bargaining arrangement, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and we recovered 106,000 cedis for the state.

“Now, don’t dwell on the amount, dwell on the principles, which is that we are being overwhelmed on the ground. When I say we are being overwhelmed, I mean the nation. We are being overwhelmed on the ground in respect of the activities of our corrupt actors," he noted.

Background

A joint investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has uncovered GH₵2.85 million in unearned salaries paid to ‘ghost names’—individuals who are deceased, retired, missing, or no longer in their positions—in the Northern Region.

The probe revealed unauthorised validators managing payrolls in educational institutions under the Ghana Education Service and at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. A primary school in the Kumbungu District was also found to be completely fictitious, yet had purported staff receiving monthly salaries.

The Office added that "By blocking these payments and removing the corresponding individuals from the Government Payroll, the Republic saved GHC34,249,737.60 for the 2024 financial year.”