The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised Northern Star Community School for what it describes as a lack of compassion in dealing with a payroll matter involving an ailing employee.

The issue emerged from the Auditor-General’s report, which flagged the school for paying GH₵5,056.47 in unearned salaries connected to the staff member.

Officials of the school explained to the Committee that the administrative clerk had a record of irregular attendance before he eventually stopped coming to work. They noted that the employee failed to officially notify management of his illness in writing, a situation they say influenced their decision to take him off the payroll and contributed to the audit infraction.

Headmaster Said A. Farouk revealed that the school has recovered GH₵1,400 so far, leaving an outstanding amount of GH₵3,665.47. He indicated that steps are being taken to retrieve the remaining funds from the staff member’s relatives.

However, Chairperson of the Committee, Abena Osei Asare, faulted the school for removing the employee from the payroll after he reportedly became ill and stopped reporting to duty.

She maintained that management should have taken deliberate steps to properly document the staff member’s condition. She further instructed the school to liaise again with auditors to ensure the issue is thoroughly resolved, stressing the need for stronger accountability and improved payroll management across public institutions.