Two officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been given until November 7, 2026, to refund unearned salaries amounting to as much as GH¢57,006. The warning came during a parliamentary hearing into financial irregularities identified in the Auditor-General’s reports.
The Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, disclosed the development when he led officials of the Ghana Immigration Service before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on October 20, 2026.
The minister identified the officers as Abida Zakaria and Abora Angelina. He said both had been notified to repay the money. He also warned that officials who authorised the payments could be held financially responsible if the funds were not recovered by the deadline.
The hearing focused on payroll irregularities, excess salary payments and the recovery of public funds. It also examined measures to strengthen financial controls within the Immigration Service and prevent similar cases in the future.
New Payroll System Planned to Prevent Irregular Payments
To address the weaknesses that allowed the payments, Muntaka announced plans to introduce new human resource management software for the Immigration Service.
The system is expected to improve staff transfers and salary validation. Officials are uploading personnel data to help ensure that transferred officers are linked promptly to their new stations.
The minister explained that delays in updating staff records sometimes left supervisors at former stations responsible for approving salaries. In some cases, supervisors relied on information from colleagues before discovering that an officer had resigned or absconded.
The proposed software is intended to reduce these gaps and strengthen payroll controls across the service.
GH¢12,900 in Excess Salary Arrears Still Outstanding
The Public Accounts Committee also examined excess salary arrears paid to seven Immigration Service officers.
According to the minister, the officers received GH¢37,907 in excess payments. The ministry has recovered about GH¢24,900, leaving approximately GH¢12,900 outstanding.
Muntaka said efforts were continuing to recover the remaining amount. However, he appealed for consideration over interest charges, particularly for newly recruited officers who might not have understood how their salary arrears were calculated.
The committee chairperson maintained that employees must question payments that appear excessive. She noted that beneficiaries have a responsibility to examine their payments, especially when they receive letters explaining salary adjustments.
The minister also called for closer scrutiny of the procedures used to calculate and pay salary arrears.
He proposed that the Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Prisons Service be considered for self-accounting arrangements similar to those used by the Police Service. He argued that greater financial autonomy could strengthen oversight and make payroll audits easier.
Former Immigration Inspector Owes GH¢206,085
The committee also reviewed a separate case involving an Immigration Service inspector who reportedly resigned after spending four years on study leave with pay.
The Auditor-General recommended the recovery of GH¢206,085, together with interest, because the former officer had failed to fulfil the required service obligations.
Muntaka told the committee that the ministry had contacted the former officer, who indicated a willingness to repay the money. The minister said the individual had been given until the end of October 2026 to settle the debt.
He warned that officials who authorised the study leave could face financial responsibility if the ministry failed to recover the money from the former officer.
The ministry has also started checking whether officers on study leave meet the required conditions. These checks include verifying admission requirements and ensuring that officers submit their academic transcripts.
GH¢9,246 Recovered in Another Salary Irregularity
Another case involved Modestus Komla Goloh, an Immigration Service officer who failed to return from leave on August 27, 2024.
Despite his absence, the officer received GH¢7,737.68 in salary payments for September and October 2024.
Muntaka told the committee that the money had been recovered with interest. A representative of the Auditor-General confirmed that GH¢9,246.26 had been paid back.
The case added to concerns about delays in identifying and reporting irregular salary payments within the service.
The latest findings highlight the need for stronger payroll monitoring, accurate personnel records and timely recovery of public funds. The November 7 deadline now gives the two officers a clear timeframe to repay the unearned salaries, while the ministry has warned that officials who authorised the payments could be held financially accountable if recovery efforts fail.
