Preliminary report of the audit of Ghana’s payroll system has uncovered the existence of massive ghost names threatening the fiscal prudence of the government.
The findings were announced by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during a high-level meeting on Tuesday with leaders of three major unions in Ghana’s tertiary education sector.
These unions were the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG).
In a bid to ensure a clean and transparent payroll, the new administration, upon assuming office, tasked the Office of the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive nationwide audit of the payroll of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
After about two months into the exercise, the Finance Minister says the preliminary report does not look good as a significant number of ghost names are still in the system, draining the finances of the state without adding any value.
According to the Minister, preliminary findings from the ongoing payroll audit point to widespread payroll infractions, with numerous non-existent individuals drawing salaries from the public purse.
With these findings, he assured the labour unions that the government is committed to conducting a comprehensive clean-up of the payroll.
This, he believes, will result in significant savings for the state to able to afford the demands of the unions. He therefore courted the support of these unions in cleaning up the country’s payroll system for the mutual benefit of all.
“Preliminary findings indicate a significant presence of ghost names on the payroll, a situation that, if addressed decisively, could yield substantial savings for the public purse. I urged the union leaders to lend their support to this important national exercise,” Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson revealed.
He added, “Cleaning the payroll is not only about fiscal prudence; it is also about restoring integrity and fairness in public sector compensation. We remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to build a sustainable, equitable, and accountable public service.”
The implications of this discovery are profound. With government expenditure on wages and salaries constituting a significant chunk of the national budget, eliminating ghost names could save the country hundreds of millions of cedis, freeing up resources for critical social interventions and infrastructure.
The Minister used the occasion to reassure the unions about ongoing efforts to disburse their Book and Research Allowance, confirming it had been fully captured in the 2025 Budget. Processes are currently underway, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to ensure its prompt release.
The Finance Minister also commended the unions for proposing the creation of a Labour Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance. This, he explained, will enhance coordination with labour stakeholders and promote constructive, transparent engagement on workforce-related issues.
