University of Ghana refutes claims of GH¢59m payroll overstatement

The University of Ghana (UG) has denied a media report. The report claimed UG overstated employee compensation by GH¢59.2 million from 2022 to 2024. This claim was published in a May 16, 2025 article by Joy News.

UG described the report as misleading and factually incorrect. They stated it distorts the institution’s financial operations. The article referenced findings from the Auditor-General’s report, raising concerns about UG's payroll.

In a press release on May 16, UG clarified the alleged GH¢59.24 million “disallowance.” They said it resulted from misunderstanding their dual payroll system. UG operates two payroll structures: one for state-funded salaries and another for internally generated funds (IGF).

The IGF payroll compensates faculty and staff hired through internal resources. This includes retired professors under post-retirement contracts, which are approved by Cabinet. UG emphasized these payments are transparent and comply with public financial reporting standards.

The University explained that the IGF payroll is not a request for GoG reimbursement. It is included in audit reports for transparency, which the Audit Service understands well. UG criticized the Special Audit Report for not distinguishing between the two payrolls.

Instead, it presented an aggregated figure that misrepresents compensation costs. The University also highlighted staffing challenges during this period. From August 2021 to 2024, 887 employees left while only 102 new hires were cleared in 2024.

Student enrollment increased significantly during this time, rising from 61,640 in 2021 to over 76,000 by 2023. To maintain academic standards without government clearance, UG had to recruit qualified personnel through IGF.

UG expressed disappointment that Joy News did not contact them before publishing the article. They stated this failure undermines journalistic ethics and risks damaging their reputation.

The University reiterated its compliance with financial regulations like Section 48 of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921). They highlighted ongoing cooperation with national oversight institutions.

UG remains committed to responsible governance as outlined in its Strategic Plan for 2024–2029. This plan emphasizes sustainable resource management under Strategic Priority 5 (SP5).

They urged the public to disregard what they called a “false narrative.” The University encouraged journalists to seek balanced perspectives in their reporting.

“The University of Ghana is dedicated to transparency and accountability,” they concluded.