A new investigation by The Fourth Estate has uncovered what it describes as a major payroll fraud scandal involving a senior civil servant alleged to have received GHC427 million in unearned salaries over a 29-month period.
The report, published on Monday, 20 April 2026, identifies Frank Oliver Kpodo, a former Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Defence, as the central figure in the case.
Findings from the Auditor-General reportedly show that Kpodo received an average of more than GHC14 million monthly between January 2023 and June 2025, despite allegedly performing little to no work during the period.
The audit further revealed that more than 6,000 government workers collectively received over GHC800 million in unearned salaries, with Kpodo alone accounting for more than half of the total.
The report has raised fresh concerns about weaknesses in Ghana’s public payroll system, which is described as vulnerable to large-scale financial abuse.
The Auditor-General has recommended the immediate removal of all unqualified names from the payroll and the recovery of funds paid out.
The case has also come under scrutiny at Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, following a separate procurement issue involving a GHC4.8 million vehicle contract that was never executed. Lawmakers are now calling for Kpodo’s interdiction and prosecution.
The investigation further noted that Dr Evans Agbeme Dzikum was Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence at the time, with oversight responsibility for financial approvals.
Experts cited in the report believe the scale of the alleged fraud points to possible collusion involving multiple actors within the system.
Financial analyst Nana Kwaku Amankwah Appiah said the transactions could not have occurred without broader institutional involvement, while procurement expert Kobina Ata-Bedu called for stricter enforcement of existing laws.
Professor Peter Quartey of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research also described payroll fraud as a long-standing challenge, blaming systemic weaknesses and “gatekeepers” within the public sector.
Responding to the allegations, Kpodo has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he was unaware of any irregular payments and maintained that his salaries were processed through official channels with valid payslips.
The revelations have renewed calls for tighter oversight and reforms in Ghana’s public financial management system amid growing concerns over state fund misuse.
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