The Auditor-General’s Office has retracted a significant error in its nationwide payroll audit report, acknowledging that it mistakenly attributed GH¢427,995,661.40 in unearned salaries to Frank Oliver Kpodo, a single public servant.
In a press release issued on 21 April 2026 and signed by Frederick Lokko, Assistant Director of Audit, the office explained that the amount was not received by Mr Kpodo. Instead, it was associated with payroll discrepancies involving 3,476 unaccounted staff under the Ministry of Education.
“We wish to state that the amount attributed to Mr Kpodo above was due to a transpositional error,” the statement said.
The statement follows the original report dated 20 November 2025, which generated public reaction after media reports suggested one individual had received nearly GH¢428 million in unearned salary payments.
The Auditor-General has offered a sincere apology to Mr Kpodo, noting that the mistake had caused him distress and subjected him to unnecessary public scrutiny.
The statement also revealed that the Office apologised to the government, the people of Ghana, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
“We offer our most sincere and unreserved apologies to Mr Frank Oliver Kpodo for the distress and unwarranted public scrutiny this error may have caused,” the release added.
According to the revised figures, the Ministry of Education recorded the highest number of payroll discrepancies, with 3,476 unaccounted staff valued at GH¢427,995,661.40.
The Ministry of Health followed with 1,363 unaccounted staff worth GH¢166,869,874.19, while the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development had 597 staff valued at GH¢84,777,594.97.
