The University of Ghana (UG) chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has issued a strong call for the resignation of the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu following what it describes as a “distasteful” and “unethical” audit report that implicates the University in irregular salary payments.
Addressing the press, UG-UTAG Secretary Jerry Joe Harrison said the Association is appalled by the standards of auditing exhibited by the Ghana Audit Service in the recent report, which named the University of Ghana as accounting for 68% (GH¢59.24 million) of irregular salary claims among government institutions.
“This report, as distasteful as it is, is simply predicated upon the poor job done by the Audit Service. The standards of auditing, in our opinion, have plummeted in recent years, and if care is not taken, it will have serious consequences for the nation.”Mr. Harrison stated.
He accused the Audit Service of being more interested in creating the appearance of diligence than upholding the ethical standards of the auditing profession. Mr. Harrison further noted that UG management was never given the opportunity to review the audit findings or clarify discrepancies before the report was made public.
“This is grossly unfair and unethical. It is a serious breach of the ethical standards required of the Audit Service and the profession. And for the Auditor-General to sit in his office and preside over such an institution that disregards ethical standards and standard practice, we are hereby calling for his resignation, honorably, or we will petition the President for his removal,” he declared.
UG-UTAG stressed that their position is not driven by any personal vendetta against the Auditor-General but by their concern that the auditing system has become a tool for intimidation—particularly against subvented institutions like universities.
Earlier, the University of Ghana released a detailed response rejecting the claims in the Auditor-General’s Special Audit Report. According to the University, the GH¢59.24 million allegedly disallowed by the Audit Service was the result of a misinterpretation of its dual payroll structure.
“The University operates a dual payroll structure—comprising the Government of Ghana (GoG) payroll and the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) payroll. These are clearly separated in our records and submissions to the Audit Service,” the University explained.
The IGF payroll, according to UG, includes payments made from its own funds to legitimately engaged staff, including retired faculty who have received Cabinet approval to continue service. These payments, the University insists, were made in accordance with public financial reporting standards and are not subject to disallowance by the Audit Service.
“The Special Audit Report did not acknowledge the distinction between the two payroll sources. Instead, it presented the figures as a single, aggregated total, creating a misleading impression of payroll overstatement,” the statement continued.
The University expressed disappointment that the report was published without first offering UG the opportunity to clarify the matter—an action they described as a breach of both auditing and journalistic ethics. The University also criticised Joy News and reporter Anthony Manu for failing to seek UG’s side of the story before going public.
UG reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and compliance with financial regulations and urged the media and auditors to maintain professional standards in their work. The University encouraged the public to disregard the narrative presented in the report and to seek verified, contextual information about its operations.
“As Ghana’s premier University and the highest-ranked institution in West Africa, UG has become a frequent target of misleading and sensationalised media reportage,” the statement read.
The University also reiterated its commitment to its 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, particularly Strategic Priority 5, which focuses on mobilising and managing resources sustainably.