A scandal has rocked Ghana’s politics as a member of parliament (MP) alleged that the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has been paying some delegates of the ruling party as government employees.
Edward Bawa, the MP for the Bongo constituency and a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the shocking claim on TV3’s Big Issues program on Saturday.
He said that the current Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, who is vying to contest the Akim Swedru seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections, has been putting his delegates on the payroll for about two years.
“Currently, as we sit, on live radio, you know the current sitting Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem is vying to contest one of the seats in the central region. Every delegate has been put on salary, and he has been doing that for about two years,” Bawa said.
He added that he had received text messages from some of the delegates, who referred to Kwaning-Bosompem as the “incoming MP”.
“I say if you have a situation where you control my money, there must be a law on how you deal with some of these things. Everybody is seeing it, and nobody is questioning it,” he said.
According to a report by Ghana Web, Bawa’s allegation has sparked outrage and calls for investigation from various quarters, including civil society groups, anti-corruption campaigners, and the public.
The CAGD, however, has denied the accusation, describing it as “ignorant and untrue”.
In a statement issued on Monday, the CAGD said that it does not have the mandate or the capacity to enroll anyone on the government payroll without the approval of the relevant authorities.
The statement explained that strict rules and procedures govern the payroll system and that any attempt to manipulate it would be detected and sanctioned.
The CAGD also challenged Bawa to provide evidence to back his claim, or retract and apologize for tarnishing the reputation of the department and its staff.
Meanwhile, the MP for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, who is facing a tough challenge from Kwaning-Bosompem in the NPP primaries, has also dismissed Bawa’s allegation as “false and unfounded”.
In a Facebook post, he said that none of his delegates are on the payroll to influence the election and that he is confident of retaining his seat based on his performance and popularity.
He urged the public to disregard the “false information” and to focus on the issues that matter to the people.
Ghana is widely regarded as one of the most stable and democratic countries in Africa, with a vibrant media and civil society.
However, the country also faces corruption, unemployment, and inequality challenges, which often fuel political tensions and conflicts.
As the 2024 elections draw nearer, many observers hope that the political actors will uphold the values of integrity, accountability, and peace that have characterized Ghana’s democracy.
