Ghana PAC: Dr Sunu GH¢341,229 Study Leave Salary Irregularity Probed

• Ghana's Public Accounts Committee has summoned Dr. Mockshell Esinam Sunu, a senior medical officer, over alleged irregular salary payments.
• Dr. Sunu reportedly received GH¢341,229 between September 2023 and August 2025 for a study leave to Germany that she did not utilize.
• The PAC, chaired by Abena Osei-Asare, is questioning the internal controls that allowed these payments to persist and the accountability of validating officials.
• The Ministry of Health is directed to work with the Ghana Medical Association to ensure Dr. Sunu's appearance before the committee.
• The inquiry aims to establish accountability for the financial irregularity and strengthen public sector financial management.

The ultimate goal of this inquiry is to strengthen compliance frameworks for all public sector entities, sending a clear message that both the recipients of unentitled funds and the officials authorizing such payments can and will be held personally accountable for financial discrepancies.

Ghana's Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a formal directive to the Ministry of Health, requiring the appearance of Dr. Mockshell Esinam Sunu, a senior medical officer, before its members. This summons is in response to an alleged significant salary irregularity, specifically concerning payments amounting to GH¢341,229. These funds were reportedly disbursed to Dr. Sunu over a period spanning from September 2023 to August 2025, despite the fact that her approved study leave, intended for an academic program in Germany, was never utilized.

Dr. Sunu, who was previously assigned to the Takoradi Hospital, was granted leave for further studies abroad. However, she did not proceed with her travel to Germany for the approved academic curriculum. Despite this, her salary payments continued uninterrupted for nearly two years. The PAC's immediate objective is to compel Dr. Sunu to provide a detailed account of why these payments persisted and to fully explain the circumstances that led to this substantial alleged financial discrepancy, which falls under the purview of "Ghana PAC Dr Sunu GH¢341,229 study leave salary" scrutiny.

During its session on Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Public Accounts Committee, under the leadership of Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare, voiced profound concerns regarding the systemic controls that allowed such a prolonged and irregular salary disbursement. Ms. Osei-Asare directly challenged the efficacy of existing protocols, questioning how a senior medical officer could continue receiving her full salary while physically remaining in Ghana, contrary to the terms of her approved study leave. She particularly highlighted the critical role of the officials responsible for validating these payments, suggesting a significant breakdown in oversight.

The Committee has explicitly instructed the Ministry of Health to work in conjunction with the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to ensure Dr. Sunu's prompt appearance and full cooperation in accounting for the situation. A central line of inquiry for the PAC will be to ascertain why Dr. Sunu herself did not initiate steps to cease the salary payments or formally notify the relevant authorities once it became evident that her travel for the academic program would not occur. This investigation aims to pinpoint accountability for the "Dr Mockshell Esinam Sunu salary irregularity," examining both institutional failures and individual responsibilities.

This specific incident, involving a substantial GH¢341,229 in alleged unapproved salary payments, brings into sharp focus critical vulnerabilities within Ghana's public sector financial administration. The "Public Accounts Committee Ghana summons" underscores the imperative for robust internal controls and rigorous validation processes, especially concerning study leave arrangements and the broader payroll system. The PAC's thorough investigation into the "Takoradi Hospital unutilised study leave" scenario is designed to identify and address systemic weaknesses that could potentially enable similar irregularities across other government ministries and agencies.

The committee's mandate extends beyond the individual case of Dr. Sunu, aiming to enhance overall "Ghana Ministry of Health accountability." It seeks to meticulously examine the roles and responsibilities of various officials tasked with validating payments, ensuring that those entrusted with safeguarding public funds execute their duties with utmost diligence and integrity. The ultimate goal of this inquiry is to strengthen compliance frameworks for all public sector entities, sending a clear message that both the recipients of unentitled funds and the officials authorizing such payments can and will be held personally accountable for financial discrepancies.

Compliance officers and legal counsel for public sector entities in Ghana should review internal controls for salary validation and study leave arrangements, particularly regarding prolonged payments to employees not actively serving. This case highlights the Public Accounts Committee's scrutiny and the potential for personal accountability for employees receiving unentitled funds and officials responsible for validating such payments.

Source: Original reporting via myjoyonline.com