Bail Granted to Five in Tamale Payroll Fraud Scandal, Trial Set for April

In a significant development, the Commercial Court in Tamale has granted bail to five out of six individuals charged with payroll fraud and corruption-related offences.

The trial, which has attracted considerable attention, centers around allegations of fraudulent payments leading to a financial loss for the state.

The accused—Yakubu Tahidu, Abdulai Abukari Sadic, Sammy Suuk, Mohammed Yusif Jay, Stafford Korletey Azudey-Barres, and Osman Issahaku—each face 17 counts of corruption, with accusations suggesting they were involved in a scheme that defrauded the government.

The charges relate to payments made to individuals who were no longer eligible to receive a salary from the government, among other alleged acts of misconduct.

The sixth defendant, Osman Issahaku, was absent from court due to a short service of summons, though the five other defendants were present and granted bail with strict conditions.

As part of their bail terms, the accused must surrender their passports, and those without passports are required to submit their Ghana Cards.

Additionally, each individual must provide two sureties, one of whom must be a senior public servant.

The case, which was referred to the court by National Security, stems from an investigation that uncovered that the first accused, Yakubu Tahidu, continued to receive a government salary despite no longer being employed as a teacher and while working at another government agency.

The remaining defendants are accused of either facilitating the fraudulent payments or failing to take action to prevent them.

The court has adjourned the trial until April 1, 2025, allowing the prosecution and defense more time to prepare for the next phase of the case.

The outcome of this trial is being closely watched, as it highlights concerns over corruption within the public sector and the misuse of state resources.