Ghost names discovered in payroll audit
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, revealed that a preliminary audit by the Auditor General into the nation’s payroll system has uncovered widespread irregularities, including numerous ghost names draining public funds.
The announcement came during a meeting on Tuesday with the leadership of three key unions within Ghana’s tertiary education sector—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).
According to the minister, the audit is part of the new government’s broader payroll reform agenda, aimed at restoring fiscal discipline and ensuring fairness in public sector compensation. The Office of the Auditor General began the nationwide audit shortly after the new administration took office, with the goal of verifying the authenticity of staff across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“Preliminary findings indicate a significant presence of ghost names on the payroll,” Dr. Forson said, stressing that if allowed to continue, these irregularities would undermine the government’s efforts for responsible financial management. He noted that the cleanup exercise, once completed, would yield substantial savings that could be redirected to other national development priorities.
Dr. Forson emphasized that eliminating ghost names is not just about saving costs but a critical step toward building a more transparent and credible wage system. “Cleaning the payroll is not only about fiscal prudence; it is also about restoring integrity and fairness in public sector compensation,” he said.
He called on the unions to fully support the audit process, describing it as a “patriotic duty” that will ultimately benefit all stakeholders, including teachers and civil servants.
During the meeting, the minister also assured the unions that the Book and Research Allowance for tertiary education staff was fully budgeted for in 2025. He confirmed that disbursement is already underway in coordination with the Ministry of Education to ensure timely payment.
The unions proposed creating a dedicated Labor Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance to improve engagement with labor unions. Dr. Forson welcomed the suggestion, calling it a constructive idea that could enhance collaboration and communication between the government and organized labor.
Government wage spending remains a large portion of the national budget. Analysts believe that addressing payroll inefficiencies such as ghost names could free up millions of cedis, allowing the government to reinvest in critical sectors including health, education, and infrastructure.
The audit is expected to be completed in the coming months, after which a full report will be submitted to Parliament. The Ministry of Finance has pledged to take appropriate action based on the Auditor General’s final recommendations.
