PAC summons doctor over GH¢341,229 salary paid during unfulfilled study leave

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has summoned a Senior Medical Officer, Dr Mockshell Esinam Sunu, to explain an alleged GH¢341,229 in salaries she received while on an approved study leave with pay.

Dr Sunu, who served at the Takoradi Hospital, is alleged to have received the salaries between September 2023 and August 2025 despite failing to travel to Germany, where she had been granted permission to pursue further studies.

Appearing before the Committee, Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare directed the Ministry of Health to engage the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to facilitate Dr Sunu’s appearance before the PAC.

The Committee wants the doctor to explain why she remained in Ghana and continued receiving her salary despite being granted study leave to travel to Germany.

“We want where the doctor is. It is just a call to the Ghana Medical Association and they will locate where the doctor is. We want to have the doctor right here to explain to us why she told the facility she was going away to study only for her to be away for how long to still be in this country, taking salary without doing the needful,” she said.

The alleged payment forms part of concerns over public funds paid to employees who may not have fulfilled the conditions attached to their approved leave, prompting the Committee to demand accountability and clarification from the relevant authorities.

The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service assured the Committee that the Service would collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the Medical and Dental Council to trace Dr Sunu and ensure that she appears before the Committee.

“Madam Chair, the Ministry and Ghana Health Service will work and liaise with the Medical and Dental Council to trace the doctor and get her back here to respond,” he said.