An audit of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has uncovered concerning gaps in staff records, with 23 employees missing from the payroll and 84 listed as unknown.
Speaking before Parliament’s Local Government Committee, Ashanti Regional Minister Frank Amoakohene explained that the discrepancies largely stem from staff transfers and administrative delays.
He clarified that when officers are posted to new stations, their names sometimes remain in records of their former departments, causing validation issues between entities.
Dr. Amoakohene dismissed suggestions that the irregularities indicate ghost employees or double salaries. “Before you are paid your salary, we have to validate you to make sure that you belong to the entity where your name reflects and where you are serving,” he said.
He added, “If you are declared missing, it means your name is not found in the entity. However, you are working there. The negative is that you don’t get paid. If you are declared unknown, it means your name is on the payroll and you are expected to receive salary. But because you are not validated, owing to the fact that you don’t work there any longer, your salary will still not come unless you are validated at your new station.”
The Minister assured the committee that steps are being taken to strengthen staff validation processes and ensure a more reliable payroll system across the region.
The audit also revealed that several RCC vehicles were operating without valid roadworthy or insurance certificates, following incomplete handovers from the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Dr. Amoakohene said the issue emerged after the audit query, prompting letters to the Ministry to retrieve the missing documents and regularize the vehicles. “Definitely, we cannot be driving with vehicles without these certificates,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal Chief Executive Rafiu Adam Seidu announced that sanitation contracts previously managed by Zoomlion Ghana Limited have been terminated due to poor supervision and delayed payments to sweepers.
Mr. Seidu explained that the sweeping work will now be handled by a local contractor, enabling closer monitoring and timely payment.
“With Zoomlion, monitoring the sweepers is a problem. It’s ineffective, and the payment system is very bad. Because of that, some come to work, some don’t. They owe so many people and can’t fulfill their obligations. By giving it to a local contractor, we can monitor them closely and ensure they are paid adequately to do their work well,” he said.
Drawing on his experience as both an assembly member and presiding member, Mr. Seidu said the move aims to address previous gaps and improve overall sanitation services in the municipality.
“We are going to build on their shortfalls and improve it. If we can correct those gaps, we can achieve better sanitation,” he added.
Source: Adomonline
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