Six Teachers Charged by OSP with Payroll Fraud in Northern Region

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged six individuals with corruption and payroll fraud in Tamale, Northern Region. The accused—Yakubu Tahidu, Abdulai Abukari Sadic, Sammy Suuk, Mohammed Yusif Jay, Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, and Osman Issahaku—face 17 charges for allegedly causing financial loss to the government.

The case began after a report from National Security revealed that Yakubu Tahidu, a former teacher at Balogu M/A JHS, kept receiving a government salary even after leaving his teaching job to work at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC).

The other accused persons are believed to have either helped or ignored the fraudulent payments.

• Abdulai Abukari Sadic, the Yendi Municipal IPPD Coordinator, and Sammy Suuk, a Schools Improvement Support Officer, allegedly helped process Tahidu’s salary.

• Mohammed Yusif Jay, the former headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, is accused of approving salaries even after he was transferred.

• Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, an official at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, allegedly assisted in processing the payments.

• Osman Issahaku, the current headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, is also accused of validating the fraudulent salaries.

The OSP has promised to take strong action against corruption in the public sector. Payroll fraud has been a major issue in Ghana, and this case is part of ongoing efforts to stop financial misconduct.

The six accused individuals will stand trial in Tamale while investigations continue.