Accra: Former Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Mike Ocquaye Jnr, is questioning the irregularities revealed in the Auditor-General's report, which include payments totaling approximately GHS19 million in pensions to deceased individuals.
According to Ghana Web, Ocquaye expressed concerns over the scale of irregularities highlighted in the report, which raises issues regarding financial management and accountability within state institutions. During an interview on Metro TV, Ocquaye disclosed that around GHS4.8 billion in tax irregularities had been documented, with about 91% of these irregularities linked to SIGA institutions.
He also noted cash irregularities amounting to approximately GHS410 million, underscoring a broader trend of financial lapses within state entities. "First of all, let's look at the tax irregularities. And again, we are talking about figures of 4.8 billion, of which about 91% has been recorded here," Ocquaye stated. "Then we also look at cash irregularities. We're looking at another 410 million. All of these were recorded under SIGA institutions," he added.
Ocquaye further emphasized instances of administrative negligence, particularly concerning pension payments. He revealed that the Auditor-General's report indicated that about GHS19 million in pensions was disbursed to deceased pensioners in 2025. "We had about 19 million pensions paid to the dead. As I write, where is it in your report? To the dead in 2025," he criticized.
Ocquaye also mentioned that irregular pension payments extended beyond this, with an additional GHS7 million allegedly paid to deceased pensioners through pension-related institutions. "We even further have various sums that the Pension Directorate, in terms of the Accountant and the Controller-General, another 7 million to deceased pensioners," he mentioned.
He stressed that these figures highlight the necessity for stronger controls and monitoring of public finances to prevent wastage of state resources due to administrative oversights. "So apart from the people who were dead, where the 19 million was paid, another 7 million was paid just to four of these people recorded by the Auditor-General's report," Ocquaye elaborated.
His comments are part of the broader discussions regarding the financial performance and governance of Ghana's state-owned enterprises and the oversight role of SIGA.