Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has unveiled alarming findings from a comprehensive payroll audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service, revealing over 14,000 unverified “ghost” employees on the government payroll.
The disclosure was made during the mid-year budget review presentation in Parliament.
Dr. Forson emphasized that the Ghana Audit Service has completed approximately 91% of a nationwide payroll audit covering all 16 regions of Ghana.
The audit uncovered significant irregularities, including a substantial number of ghost workers and separated staff individuals who have retired, resigned, been terminated, placed on leave without pay, or deceased, yet continue to receive salaries.
“Mr. speaker, so far, the Audit Service has not been able to identify and verify over 14,000 workers,” Minister Forson stated.
“Additionally, they have identified 53,311 separated staff still on the government payroll,” he added.
The Finance Minister disclosed that the government expects to recover GH¢150.4 million in unearned salaries paid to these separated employees during the 2023-2024 fiscal period.
“The Audit Service expects to recover GHc150.4 million in
unearned salaries paid to separated staff during 2023- 2024.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Forson pledged strict enforcement of monthly payroll validation processes to prevent such anomalies.
“Going forward, we will enforce the monthly payroll validation process and strictly apply sanctions to all who validate ‘ghosts’ for payment of salaries,” Dr. Forson warned.
He also issued a stern caution to all public service officials involved in approving ghost payments, declaring that they will be held personally liable for any losses of public funds.
He emphasized “Rt. Hon Speaker, let me use this opportunity to strongly caution those who validate “ghosts” across the public service that they will be personally liable for public fund losses.”
In addition to the payroll audit, the Finance Minister noted that the Ghana Audit Service, in partnership with audit firms Ernst & Young (EY) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), is in advanced stages of auditing GH¢68.7 billion in government arrears.
So far, 87% of this audit has been completed, yielding the following preliminary results:
1. GH¢28.3 billion validated for payment
2. GH¢3.6 billion rejected due to errors, duplications, and
non-compliance
3. GH¢562.6 million lacked adequate supporting documents
4. GH¢27.3 billion remains pending validation”.
Source: www.Kumasimail/KwadwoOwusu
