The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has strongly denied claims circulating on social media that a senior official at the Ministry of Defence was paid GH¢427 million in unearned salaries over a 29-month period, describing such payments as impossible under Ghana’s payroll system.

The allegation emerged after The Fourth Estate cited portions of an Auditor-General’s Department report covering January 2023 to June 2025, suggesting the individual received an average monthly salary exceeding GH¢14 million without justification.

In a statement dated April 20, 2026, the CAGD rejected the claims and reaffirmed the credibility of its payroll processes. It explained that salary payments go through several levels of verification, including approvals by heads of institutions and internal controls aimed at identifying and preventing irregular transactions.

According to the department, additional safeguards such as variance checks, verification against conditions of service, and reconciliation with banking records are in place to ensure the accuracy of payments.

The CAGD also called for responsible reporting, urging that such sensitive claims be thoroughly verified before being made public.

The issue has reignited discussions about payroll transparency and the reliability of audit findings, even as the department insists its control systems are robust enough to prevent large-scale irregular payments.