Former Headteacher “Chops” Unearned Salary Of ¢72,759, Gets Arrested

Patrick Wisdom Krampah, the former headmaster of Ahamansu L. A. Erishad Primary School situated in the Oti Region, found himself in a predicament as he was apprehended by the Jasikan Police last Monday. His arrest was not just a routine procedure; it stemmed from grave allegations accusing him of pocketing an exorbitant sum of GH¢72,759.32 in unearned salaries.

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, took decisive action last Friday, ordering the Kadjebi District Directorate of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to collaborate with law enforcement to bring Krampah to justice for his alleged financial misdeeds against the state.

Sources within the Jasikan Police, who disclosed this development to the Daily Graphic, affirmed Krampah’s detainment and divulged that he was actively aiding the authorities in their investigations into the matter, hinting at the gravity of the accusations leveled against him.

This unfolding saga traces back to revelations contained within the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report on the Account of Ghana – Ministries, Departments, and Other Agencies for the fiscal year culminating on December 31, 2020. Presented before the committee on January 31, 2024, this report painted a damning picture, exposing Krampah’s receipt of illicit payments spanning from February 2018 to June 2020, during his tenure as headteacher before transitioning to the role of a project assistant at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).

In light of these findings, the Auditor-General wasted no time in recommending swift action, urging the District Director of Education to reclaim the misappropriated funds from Krampah along with accrued interest, directing that it be deposited into the Auditor-General’s Recovery Account held at the Bank of Ghana. Failing compliance, the directive stipulated that recovery efforts should extend to the district director and validators implicated in the malfeasance.

Dr. Avedzi minced no words in highlighting the severity of Krampah’s transgressions, unequivocally stating that his actions flagrantly violated the tenets of the Public Financial Management Regulation, warranting decisive repercussions.