The University of Ghana Chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has called for the immediate resignation of Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu in light of a contentious payroll audit report that has raised serious concerns within the academic community.
The demand follows the release of a special payroll verification audit from the Auditor-General’s office, which asserts that the University of Ghana overstated employee compensation by GH¢59.2 million between 2022 and 2024. However, UTAG-UG has vehemently disputed these findings, labeling the report as misleading and inaccurate.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, May 20, UTAG-UG General Secretary Jerry Joe Harrison criticized the audit as damaging to the university’s reputation and that of its staff. He emphasized that the report was released without allowing the university an opportunity to respond or clarify any discrepancies highlighted in the findings.
Harrison accused the Auditor-General of ethical misconduct, stating that the way the audit was compiled disqualifies him from continuing in office. “It appears to us that the audit service is more interested in appearing to be working rather than doing the right thing, and in so doing, they ignore ethical standards that guide their profession,” he declared.
Moreover, he pointed out that the University of Ghana was not given a chance to review or comment on the audit results before they were made public, which he deemed unfair and unethical. “The University of Ghana maintains that the audit report was not shared with them for them to make comments and clarify any discrepancies before this was made public. This is a serious breach of the ethics required of the audit service and the profession,” Harrison asserted.
Declaring that the situation represents a failure of professional standards, UTAG-UG has called for decisive action. “For the Auditor-General to sit in his office and preside over such an institution that disregards ethical standard practice, we are hereby calling for the resignation of the Auditor-General, or we will petition the President for him to be removed,” Harrison concluded, underscoring the gravity of the issue as the university community rallies behind their call for accountability.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
