The University of Ghana chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has said the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu behaved unethically and misled the public with his report on the university's payroll audit.

According to them the Auditor-Genearal’s report had said there was an employee compensation of GH¢59.2 million between 2022 and 2024, which he described as overstated.

The UG chapter of UTAG is insisting that for this reason, the Auditor-General should resign for a "misleading and unethical audit report on the university’s payroll."

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday [May 20] the Secretary of the UG chapter of UTAG, Jerry Joe Harrison, criticised the Auditor-General’s report, which claimed the university had overstated employee compensation by GH¢59.2 million between 2022 and 2024.

“For the Auditor-General to sit in his office and preside over such an institution that disregards ethical standard practice, we are hereby calling for the resignation of the Auditor-General, or we will petition the President for his removal,” Harrison said.

The Association expressed disapproval of what it said was a breach of professional ethics, noting that the University was not given the opportunity to respond to or clarify the findings prior to the report’s publication. According to UTAG-UG, this omission amounted to a serious violation of due process.

Mr. Harrison further alleged that the report is being used for political manipulation and accused some media outlets of consistently misrepresenting the university’s operations.

He described the Auditor-General’s conduct as unprofessional and unfit for someone in his position.

“It appears to us that the Audit Service is more interested in appearing to be working than in doing the right thing, and in so doing, they ignore ethical standards that guide their profession,” he added.

UTAG-UG defended the legitimacy of the salary payments identified in the audit, insisting they were made under legally sanctioned agreements and were necessary due to structural challenges, including staff attrition, delayed subventions, and government restrictions on recruitment.

The association also called on the National Media Commission to act against what it termed “low-standard journalism” that has, in its view, unfairly tarnished the University’s reputation.

UG UTAG concluded by asserting that the Auditor-General’s actions have eroded public trust and calling for accountability. “For ethical breaches of this magnitude, we believe the Auditor-General should be removed from office,” Harrison affirmed.