The Auditor General has revealed that the Ministry of Health erroneously disbursed $11,962 in salaries for a non-existent employee over a period comprising 14 fortnights in 2023. This alarming finding was outlined in the recently presented Auditor General’s Report on the Social Services Sector.
According to the report, an audit discovered that the individual associated with Electronic Data Processing (EDP) number 93715 did not appear in the Ministry’s Human Resource and Management Information System, leading to unauthorized salary payments. The Auditor General highlighted the necessity for robust supervisory checks in payroll processing and recommended that the Ministry must ensure full recovery of the misallocated funds.
In a response to this situation, the Health Ministry stated that they have located the individual and have reached an agreement regarding the recovery of the funds. The move is part of their efforts to rectify previous discrepancies, which echo findings from earlier audits, such as unresolved overpayments reported in the past that have raised significant concerns about the ministry’s payroll management.
Earlier audits have identified systemic problems, including unauthorized salary disbursements and difficulties in managing overpayments due to late resignation notifications. In light of these issues, the Ministry has undertaken measures to decentralize operations and enhance internal controls, aiming to mitigate such errors in the future.
These ongoing challenges, while troubling, also highlight the potential for necessary reforms within the ministry. The commitment to addressing these discrepancies suggests a path towards increased accountability and improved financial management in public institutions, fostering better governance and restoring public trust.
Such reforms not only address past issues but also signify a hopeful trend towards enhanced oversight and efficient use of public funds, benefiting both the Ministry of Health and the communities it serves.
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