2,999 'ghosts' on Youth Employment Agency payroll

Some 2,999 beneficiaries of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) who are no longer at post continue to draw their allowances, the Agency has disclosed.

As a result, YEA has suspended the payment of allowances to beneficiaries. The Agency discovered the discrepancy after a preliminary audit of their payroll.

The audit further revealed that payments were made to some beneficiaries with no work done, some beneficiaries have not been paid since May 2016 leading to huge arrears, and some beneficiaries are working without appointment letters.

According to a statement by the Agency signed by Acting Deputy CEO in Charge of Operations Bashiru Ibrahim, the preliminary audit has saved the agency and the taxpayer GHC1,067,700 per month.

“On the basis of these findings, management has commissioned the Internal Audit Agency to conduct a special audit into the operations of the agency. This has become necessary in order to provide a platform for the new administration to take measures to prevent the scandals that rocked the Agency in the past,” the statement said.