Report of the Auditor General on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Technical Universities for the year ended 31 December 2022 has revealed some financial irregularities of a Lecturer in Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University.

In the Report Released, a former Lecturer by name Dr. Majeed Koranteng Osman was granted a study leave to pursue a PhD program in China in order to return and serve in the institution, he later resigned after the University Sponsored his Education. He has been directed to refund all salaries he received whilst away for studies with interest.

Statement

He was granted three (3) years study leave with pay, from 24 August 2016
to 30 July 2019 to pursue a PhD in Power Engineering in China. His guarantors,
Emmanuel Sarsah and Adams Yunus are both lecturers at the Mechanical
Engineering Department of the University. Dr. Osman requested for an extension.

of time to complete his programme which was granted to 31 January 2020. He later resigned on 1 July 2022 after completion of the course. He was to refund salary plus interest totalling GH¢270,981.78 paid to him during the study leave period.

Emmanuel Aikins, Another Lecturer on Study leave has also be ordered to refund monies given to him during his study leave in the past.

He was granted three (3) years study leave with pay from 14 August 2018 to 31 October 2021 to pursue a PhD in Economics and Management Science at Algarve University, Portugal.

His guarantors, Michael Gbegble and George Okyere Dokyi are both lecturers atthe University. The completion period of the course had elapsed yet, Mr. Aikins had not reported to the University at the time of the auditin March 2023.

He was to refund salary plus interest totalling GH¢306,835.92 paid to him during the study leave period.

Auditor General’s Recommendation

The University was deprived of the benefit which should have been derived
from the skills acquired by the officers.

We recommended to Management to pursue Dr. Majeed Koranteng Osman
and Mr. Emmanuel Aikins and their guarantors to refund the sum of
GH¢270,981.78 and GH¢306,835.92 respectively and pay same into the
Auditor-General’s Recoveries Account at Bank of Ghana with account number
1018331470015, failing which Management should take legal action against them.

We again advised Management to ensure that prospective staff who wish to access the study leave with pay secure insurance/bank guarantee before
granting the approval, so that in the event the bonded staff fails to return to
serve the bond, Management could recover money expended on the staff from the insurance/bank guarantee.

Source: Upperwestmedia.net