A sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) erupted in laughter as a teacher admitted to spending GH₵15,000 of unearned salary during his appearance.

Mr Emmanuel Samson, a Principal Superintendent of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Gomoa West District, confessed that he was aware that he had been overpaid, receiving GH₵46,735.09 instead of the GH₵30,763.71 he was due for his service between October 2017 and October 2019.

Mr. Samson, who teaches at Akropong Number One DA JHS, told the committee that he had spent the extra GH₵15,000 before realizing the overpayment. He acknowledged his obligation to repay the funds and made two initial payments. However, due to financial difficulties, he was unable to complete the repayment.

During the hearing, Samson pledged to repay the remaining balance using an investment worth GH₵18,000, which he had set aside.

The chairman of the PAC, James Klutse Avedzi urged Mr. Samson to ensure that he retrieves his investment to make the repayment at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rates at the end of the month.
"The instruction is that at the end of the month, go for your investment, go and clear all the balance, all that is left is for you," Mr Avedzi said.

To which Mr. Samson replied: "Yes, I have heard you boss".

Mr Avedzi added: "Don't go for the investment and come back and say there is another problem so you can't. Make sure you pay. if you don't we will ask the auditors to take full action because what you did is actually criminal but we will leave that aspect, we will allow you to go for the investment and pay the money".

The PAC is tasked with scrutinizing the accounts of public institutions, and such cases of financial discrepancies often come under its review.