UG UTAG demands removal of Auditor-General over Payroll Audit Report that mistakenly cited the University for wrongdoing 

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), University of Ghana chapter, is calling for the immediate removal of the Auditor-General following a special payroll verification audit that accused the University of inflating salary claims by GH¢59.2 million between 2022 and 2024.

The Auditor-General’s report, which identified the University of Ghana as the biggest contributor to irregular salary claims accounting for 68% of the GH¢86.86 million uncovered across government institutions has sparked outrage.

Addressing the press, the Secretary of UG UTAG, Jerry Joe Harrison said the Association described the audit findings as misleading, unethical, and damaging to the institution’s public image.

They argue that “the University was not given the chance to respond to or clarify the report before it was made public, which they say constitutes a breach of due process and professional ethics.

UG UTAG further alleged that the Auditor-General’s report has become a tool for political manipulation and called out certain media outlets for consistently misreporting issues about the University.

The Association is also urging the National Media Commission to take action against what it describes as “low-standard journalism” targeting the University.

“This is absolutely not right. Because of that, we are urging the National Media Commission to as a matter of urgency call these low-standard journalists to order for additional harm about the university”, they stated.

The Association defended the legitimacy of the salary payments flagged in the report, insisting they were backed by legal agreements with the government. It also lamented longstanding structural challenges, including delayed subventions and lack of recruitment clearance, which have strained university operations.

UG UTAG maintains that the Auditor-General’s actions have undermined trust in public institutions and should not go unpunished. “For ethical breaches of this magnitude, we believe the Auditor-General should be removed from office,” Jerry Joe Harrison, Secretary UG UTAG stated

The Association emphasized its commitment to upholding transparency but insisted that accountability must be rooted in fairness and integrity.

By Deboraah Mensah

The post UG UTAG demands removal of Auditor-General over Payroll Audit Report that mistakenly cited the University for wrongdoing  first appeared on 3News.

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