Ghana's Auditor-General has discovered that GHS 7,494,975.34 was improperly paid to four deceased pensioners. These payments continued for seven years, from February 2019 to March 2026.
This unlawful disbursement highlights significant weaknesses in Ghana's public pension system. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) failed to stop these payments, triggering concerns about chronic systemic loopholes. The Auditor-General’s Report for the year ended December 31, 2025, details these irregularities.
This case is part of a broader pattern of financial indiscipline in Ghana's public sector. The 2025 audit of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) revealed a 156% surge in financial irregularities, totaling GHS 5.27 billion. This continued payment to deceased individuals shows a critical lack of oversight and data sharing between national death registries, banks, and pension administrators. These failures undermine public confidence in financial management and the government's ability to protect state funds. It further points to a recurring challenge in Ghana, where calls for stronger internal audits and robust financial controls remain pressing.
The Auditor-General has issued a firm directive to the Controller and Accountant-General. The directive requires the recovery of the full GHS 7,494,975.34, along with interest based on the Bank of Ghana's lending rate. The funds must be recovered from the next-of-kin who may have accessed these accounts. Any recovered money should be deposited into the Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account at the Bank of Ghana.
This directive emphasizes the need for immediate action to prevent further financial losses to the state. Should recovery efforts face challenges, legal action will be initiated against bankers and the next-of-kin of the deceased pensioners. This puts commercial banks on notice regarding their responsibility to identify and freeze dormant accounts. The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced inter-agency collaboration and real-time data sharing. Financial authorities must implement stricter compliance measures to prevent similar occurrences. This action aligns with the Auditor-General’s intensified efforts to enforce financial discipline and block fiscal leakages across the country. The public will be watching closely to see if the full amount is recovered and if lasting reforms are put in place.