Nationwide Payroll Audit a waste of state resources – Assafuah

Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Ekow Vincent Assafuah, believes auditing the government payroll is a waste. He points out that audits are already done monthly. It confuses him why another audit is needed from the Auditor General.

Assafuah states, “This special audit duplicates an existing mechanism.” The previous administration set up a system for monthly payroll reviews. Internal Auditors and other departments work to identify ghost names. He argues this new audit wastes resources and burdens Audit Service staff.

He urges the Auditor General to change his approach. Instead of a special operation, he should include payroll reviews in routine audits for 2024/2025. This would help maintain credibility and public confidence in the Audit Service.

Assafuah expresses disappointment in Auditor-General Mr. Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu. He feels the payroll audit seems premature and politically motivated. The timing raises questions about the independence of the Audit Service.

He believes this audit targets employees from the previous administration unfairly. Such actions undermine fairness and due process, especially amid mass terminations causing anxiety among public servants.

There are concerns that Mr. Akuamoah Asiedu may feel pressured to conduct this audit to keep his job. If true, it threatens the integrity of his office, which should promote accountability.

Assafuah warns against using this audit as a distraction from pressing national issues like exchange rates or drug trafficking allegations. The Auditor-General's role is to protect public funds, not engage in political cleansing.

He reiterates that any necessary payroll reviews should be part of regular audits moving forward. This will ensure transparency and uphold trust in the Audit Service.

Finally, he cautions against selective accountability, urging protection of institutions from political misuse.