The National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed that over 1.7 million dalasis were paid out to alleged ghost workers at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), prompting renewed worries regarding financial mismanagement at the nation’s leading referral institution.
The management letter from the NAO, covering the period from January 1, 2021, to April 30, 2024, indicated that a staff verification exercise uncovered several employees on the hospital’s payroll who could not be physically located. According to auditors, payments amounting to D1,718,938.18 were disbursed to these individuals, even in the absence of any evidence of their active service.
“The report indicated that the staff listed could not be located in terms of physical presence, yet they received salaries totalling D1,718,938.18.” The audit cautioned that disbursing salaries to non-existent or absent personnel represents a “wastage of hospital resources” and advised the prompt recovery of the funds.
Management at EFSTH, in its reply, affirmed that all listed staff were accounted for. It was explained that some were active employees, while others had either retired, left for health reasons, or had absconded from their positions. Management stated that the situation has now been “regularized” and committed to ensuring formal dismissals and adherence to leave regulations in the future.
The audit revealed that the hospital failed to make contributions to the Medical and Health Services Cooperative Credit Union in December 2023 and January 2024, resulting in further financial penalties. The NAO reported that the hospital faced penalties amounting to D2,089,483.77 due to missed payments, which were attributed to delays in receiving subvention from the Ministry of Health.
The hospital’s total liability during this period amounted to D6,954,968.94, as indicated in the report, which also highlighted that the delay might hinder staff members from obtaining loans and other benefits from the credit union.
