In a significant move to combat corruption, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed charges against six individuals at the Tamale High Court in the Northern Region. The accused—Yakubu Tahidu, Abdulai Abukari Sadic, Sammy Suuk, Mohammed Yusif Jay, Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, and Osman Issahaku—are facing 17 counts of corruption and payroll fraud, allegedly causing financial loss to the state.
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Allegations and Offences
The charges stem from a referral by National Security, which uncovered that Yakubu Tahidu continued to receive salaries despite no longer being a teacher at Balogu M/A JHS. Instead, he was employed at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC). The other accused individuals are alleged to have knowingly facilitated or failed to prevent the fraudulent payments.
In a statement issued on Monday, 17th February, the OSP outlined the offences of the accused as follows:
- Yakubu Tahidu: Formerly a teacher at Balogu M/A JHS, accused of illegally receiving salaries after vacating his post to join MASLOC.
- Abdulai Abukari Sadic: Yendi Municipal IPPD Coordinator, accused of facilitating salary validations for Tahidu.
- Sammy Suuk: Schools Improvement Support Officer, also accused of facilitating salary validations for Tahidu.
- Mohammed Yusif Jay: Former headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, accused of validating the salaries despite reassignment to another school.
- Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres: Assistant Chief Accounts Technician at the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, alleged to have aided the processing of fraudulent payments.
- Osman Issahaku: Current headteacher of Balogu M/A JHS, accused of continuing to validate the irregular payments.
Commitment to Accountability
The OSP has reaffirmed its commitment to investigating and prosecuting cases to safeguard public funds and uphold accountability. This case highlights the ongoing efforts to root out corruption and ensure that public officials are held to the highest standards of integrity.
As the case unfolds, stakeholders and the public will be closely watching to see how the judicial process addresses these serious allegations and works towards restoring trust in the management of public funds.
Stay tuned for further updates on this case and the measures being taken to combat corruption in Ghana.
