{
  "id": 1249950,
  "title": "Decentralise GES payroll system to curb corruption – Transparency International",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/decentralise-ges-payroll-system-to-curb-corruption-transparency",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T10:20:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghana Business News",
    "slug": "ghana-business-news",
    "url": "https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2026/08/16/decentralise-ges-payroll-system-to-curb-corruption-transparency-international/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Transparency International Ghana (TI Ghana) has advocated for the complete decentralisation of the Ghana Education Service (GES) payroll management system to the district level to curb fraud and corruption associated with staff validation and enlistment. According to Mr. Michael Kwame Boadi, Fundraising Manager at TI Ghana, the existing national-level validation system is inefficient in verifying real and active staff, leading to corruption and payroll irregularities that drain GES funds. During a stakeholder forum in Cape Coast, TI Ghana's assessment in six districts in 2023 revealed that payroll irregularities significantly contribute to waste at GES. The report highlights ghost names, bribery, false assumption letters, weak checks and balances, and teacher absenteeism as major issues, affecting education outcomes and the sector's development. As the GES's budget is predominantly spent on salaries (95%), an efficient payroll system is crucial for funding essential services like supervision, capacity building, and teacher recruitment. Mr. Boadi emphasized the need for urgent action from GES and the Accountant General’s Department. He proposed an automated clocking system to verify teacher presence and urged the GES to adequately resource School Improvement Support Officers (SISO) for effective supervision. The TI Ghana official denounced corruption, stating that it disproportionately harms women and children, urging citizens to report such activities promptly. Participants shared their experiences with corruption in the education sector, including bribery for school admissions and hostel accommodations. They pledged to support the anti-corruption fight but called for better systems and stringent actions to reduce corruption risks. Cape Coast Metro Director of NCCE, Mr. Joseph Abban, emphasized that civic education is a shared responsibility and the fight against corruption requires citizen participation, emphasizing the importance of naming and shaming corrupt individuals.",
  "summary": "Transparency International Ghana has called for the full decentralisation of the education payroll management system to the district level to mitigate fraud and corruption associated with staff validation and enlistment. The post Decentralise GES payroll system to curb corruption – Transparency International appeared first on Ghana Business News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}