The Ghana Audit Service will recover GH¢150.4 million in unearned salaries from 53,311 separated staff over the 2023–2024 period.

This follows a nationwide payroll audit commissioned by the government across all 16 regions as part of efforts to sanitise the public sector payroll and eliminate ghost names.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, disclosed this while presenting the Government’s 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review dubbed “Resetting the Economy for the Ghana We Want 2025.”

The exercise would affect separated staff who have retired, resigned, been terminated, are on leave without pay or deceased, yet remain on the government payroll.

Dr Forson said the Ministry would enforce a monthly payroll validation process and apply strict sanctions to individuals who approve ghost names for salary payments.

“Let me use this opportunity to strongly caution those who validate ‘ghosts’ across the public service that they will be personally liable for the loss of public funds.”

“The Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor the payroll and put in place measures to prevent ‘ghost names’ on our payroll,” he added.

Providing an update on arrears and payables as of end-2024, the Minister stated that out of GH¢68.7 billion audited, GH¢28.3 billion had been validated for payment.

He said GH¢3.6 billion was rejected due to errors, duplications and non-compliance with Public Financial Management and procurement rules.

“An amount of GH¢562.6 million was without adequate supporting documents, and GH¢27.3 billion was pending validation,” he added.

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