The Public Accounts Committee has criticised Northern Star Community School for what it describes as insensitive handling of a payroll issue involving a sick staff member.
The matter, highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report, cited the school for unearned salary payments amounting to GH₵5,056.47 linked to the employee.
School authorities told the Committee that the administrative clerk had irregular attendance before eventually stopping work, and that the absence of formal communication contributed to their decision to remove him from the payroll.
Headmaster Said A Farouk said the school has recovered GH₵1,400 so far, with efforts ongoing to retrieve the remaining GH₵3,665.47.
However, Committee Chairperson Abena Osei Asare criticised the decision, arguing that the school should have taken steps to document the staff member’s condition rather than removing him from the payroll.
She directed the school to re-engage auditors and properly address the issue, raising concerns about accountability and payroll management in public institutions.
“Couldn’t the school have written, knowing very well that the person is unwell, and taken those steps on behalf of the person? Because there are people who are sick and are not working but are still on payroll. The fact that you are sick does not mean you should be taken off payroll, unless you are due for retirement,” she said.
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