Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem has disclosed that an audit averted a potential loss of more than GHS159 million in allowances intended for teacher trainees under the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). He explained that the Ministry of Education had reported unpaid allowances amounting to GHS160 million. However, when auditors engaged GTEC, the agency confirmed that no arrears were outstanding as of December 2024.
The audit further revealed that GHS6.1 million appeared on the Ministry of Education’s Bank Transfer Advices (BTA) schedule at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, despite the same funds having already been covered by a donor partner. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, Nyarko Ampem cautioned that such discrepancies risk double payments and highlighted weaknesses in financial oversight and coordination between donor contributions and government records.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the findings highlight the need for stronger monitoring and more effective coordination between government agencies and development partners to prevent financial mismanagement in the education sector. “The Ministry of Education reported unpaid allowances totaling GHS160milion to teacher trainees under the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). When auditors engaged GTEC, the agency confirmed that as of December 2024, there were no outstanding arrears. Over GHS159million would have been lost but for this audit.
“An amount of GHS6.1million appeared on the Ministry of Education’s BTA schedule at the control and the Accountant General’s department even though the same funds had been paid by a donor partner. “Such entries open a door for double payments and expose a dangerous pattern of weak oversight and porous coordination between donor and financial records,” Nyarko said.
Source: Abigail Arthur
