10/11/2025
*WHY I SWIFTLY ORDERED THE REVERSAL OF THE WRONGFUL GHS 252,424.25 PAYMENT TO GOVERNMENT CHEST*
Over the past few days, I have received hundreds of messages and phone calls with words of commendation for swiftly returning the GHS 252,424.25 wrongful payment to government chest.
Whilst appreciating the commendation, it's pleasing to note that this is not the first time I returned or facilitates the reversal of wrongful government payments, and at times wrongful Mobile Money (MoMo) alerts from individuals who mistakenly sent them to my corporate or personal number, to its original source.
As head of payroll at the time, I have also equally facilitated the return of almost a million Ghana cedis of unearned Teacher Trainee Allowances (overpayment) to source.
For me, returning to its original source or owner, what is not rightfully mine is my way of life.
In line with EMB Ghana's corporate values, and the ethics of my Profession (Finance), my family's reputation, my church- The Apostolic Church-Ghana's Teachings, I took a bold, but VERY EASY decision to immediately order a reversal of the same to the source of funds.
The below summary highlights what happened:
1. At 3:20 PM, January 12, 2024 we received an SMS alert notice of a credit transfer via SWIFT in our favor
2. At 3:23 PM, January 12, 2024, haven't crosschecked our records with my team, we concluded we were not due the said amount. It was thus a wrongful payment. On behalf of my company, EMB Ghana Ltd, I instructed the Bank, GCB Bank Plc via a phone call to immediately course a reversal of the wrongful payment to source.
3. Three (3) days later (15-01-2024), we wrote officially to the bank havent relized that the money was still being held in our account. The later was addressed to the Branch Manager of High Street, GCB Bank Plc and copied the Chief Treasury Officer of the Ministry of Works, Housing & Water Resources. The payment was subsequently reversed same day (15-01-2024), upon submission of the letter and haven't met the branch manager in person.
4. Following the reversal of the funds to source, I submitted a copy of the letter addressed to the High Street Branch to the CTO on 15-01-2024 together with the SWIFT. The CTO confirmed in my presence that the funds so reversed has reflected in the Treasury of his Ministry.
5. The reversal decision of the wrongful payment was communicated to the Branch Manager, High Street, GCB Bank Plc and the Chief Treasury Officer, Ministry of Works, Housing & Water Resources both on 15-01-2024
6. The wrongful payment amount so received and the same reversed stood at GHS 252,424.25
The scripture, 1Timothy 4:16 says: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
Finally, may we be seen doing "The Right Thing ESPECIALLY When You're CONVINCED That No One Is Watching You"
Thank you all
David Kojo Flika
(MBA Finance, BSc Accounting & Finance, PGD Data Analytics)
