The Chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abena Osei-Asare, on August 22, 2025, reprimanded the District Accountant of the Ministry of Education in Donkokrom for unlawfully withholding the entire salary of a teacher.

The incident occurred during a PAC sitting probing financial infractions within the Education Ministry.

It was revealed that the accountant had instructed a bank to place a total embargo on the teacher’s salary, forwarding 100% of his earnings to the Ministry over alleged irregularities in his appointment.

When questioned, the accountant admitted to the action, claiming that it was based on an understanding with the teacher, who had suggested the embargo as a repayment method.

This admission, however, infuriated the PAC Chair.

“On what authority, on whose authority, where is the law that gave you the mandate to place an embargo on a person’s whole salary?” Abena Osei-Asare demanded.

“But do you know what you are doing is illegal?” she pressed further.

The accountant responded, “Yes.”

Abena Osei Asare, who is also the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, retorted, “Stop right there. It is illegal, and you said yes.”

She emphasised that the accountant’s action contravened Ghana’s financial regulations, which stipulate that not more than 40% of a person’s salary can be withheld under such circumstances.

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“It is illegal to take away 100% of someone’s salary. The maximum is 40%. So, if you tell us you want to find a solution to a problem that the person did not even create, then you are equally committing an illegality,” she stressed.

The Committee further discovered that the teacher in question, who also served as head of the school, had validated his own promotion from his previous role to that of Assistant Registrar Technical Investigator, a clear breach of procedure.

Despite acknowledging the teacher’s wrongdoing, the PAC Chair cautioned that the accountant’s actions could not be justified.

“The fact that he has committed this doesn’t mean you should also do the same. We cannot sit and watch you perpetuate an illegality just because the teacher also erred,” she stated.

“Stop right there! It is illegal to take 100% of a salary!”
PAC Chair Abena Osei Asare calls out Ministry of Education officials for unlawfully withholding a teacher’s entire salary over rule breaches.

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— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) August 22, 2025