General News of 2026-09-02
‘They paid about GH¢19m in pensions to the dead’ – Mike Ocquaye Jnr punches holes in SIGA report
Former Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Mike Ocquaye Jnr, has raised concerns over irregularities captured in the Auditor-General’s report, including the payment of about GH¢19 million in pensions to deceased persons.
According to him, the scale of irregularities recorded in the report raises questions about financial management and accountability within state institutions.
Speaking in an interview on Metro TV on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Ocquaye said that about GH¢4.8 billion in tax irregularities had been recorded, with approximately 91 per cent of the figure attributed to SIGA institutions.
He also pointed to cash irregularities amounting to about GH¢410 million, saying the figures formed part of a broader pattern of financial lapses identified in state institutions.
“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,” he said.
“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 highlighted what he described as instances of administrative negligence, particularly in relation to pension payments.
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He said the Auditor-General’s report showed that about GH¢19 million in pensions was paid 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 said.
According to him, the irregular pension payments did not end there, as another GH¢7 million was reportedly 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 said.
Ocquaye said the figures demonstrate the need for stronger controls and monitoring of public finances to prevent state resources from being lost through administrative failures.
“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,” he added.
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the financial performance and governance of Ghana’s state-owned enterprises and the role of SIGA in overseeing them.
NA/BAI
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