Member of Parliament for Ketu North in the Volta Region, Hon. Edem Eric Agbana recently cited the case of former headmaster of Dzodze-Penyi Senior High School (DZOSEC), Mr Koffi Adiabo over alleged criminal conduct and the receipt of unearned salaries at the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing yesterday.
Mr. Edem Agbana at the sitting called for improved systems to ensure proper validation of staff under the Ghana Education Service (GES) when he mentioned the example of former DZOSEC headmaster, Mr. Prince Koffi Adiabo.
In his submission, Mr. Agbana shared his frustration as to why the leadership of GES kept on validating Mr. Adiabo despite abandoning post at DZOSEC for more than six(6) months.
The MP mentioned that had it not been for his intervention, as an honourable member of the area, the headmaster would have still been receiving his monthly salary and allowances.
“With regards to these issues of validation within the Ghana Education system, what you are asking the GES to recover, if they can give us a plan; an improved system of validation. Because I have a similar system where somebody who was no more at post for close to seven (7) months, was still getting his salaries validated” said Mr. Agbana.
Hon. Agbana went on to add that “He was still getting his salaries until June, 2025. It took a special intervention from me as the MP for the area to get the gentleman off the payroll. So these are not isolated cases at all, and this is a gentleman who is alleged to have used another person’s certificates to get whatever reward that he wanted and became a headmaster for several years. GES kept validating him even after he had abandoned post for close to seven (7) months”.
“We cannot have a system that works that way; that tax payers monies will be spent on paying alleged criminals, people who are not working and there seems to be no systems to check these things”.
“So beyond the recovery of this particular one, GES must give us a system; a better mechanism of validating their staff before payment are made. Respectfully submitted, Sir” Mr. Agbana at PAC.
The Chairperson of the Committee jokingly added that “That is what we’ve been battling with GES all day. They realised that there is a huge problem and I believe you were not here earlier – your blood pressure would have gone up”.
