The payroll monitoring exercise, aimed at addressing irregularities in the public sector wage bill, is set to expand its focus to public health institutions in Ghana.
Mr Benjamin Arthur, CEO of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), revealed that the initiative aims to detect and rectify anomalies in workload and salary structures.
The CEO stated, “This year, the focus would be on the health sector. Hopefully, the team will be on the field by the first week in February,” emphasizing the commitment to enhancing transparency in payroll management.
The exercise, launched in April of the previous year, initially targeted the Local Government Service in the Western, Greater Accra, Central, Volta, and Oti regions. Mr. Arthur explained that the remaining regions would undergo scrutiny in subsequent phases.
Preliminary findings from the 2023 exercise indicated a noteworthy reduction in the wage bills of 17 institutions, averaging a 1.2% decrease from April to August. This equated to approximately GH¢36,108,000 in savings.
The Controller and Accountant General's Department also saw reductions in the wage bill, contributing to overall savings of about GH¢178,360,000.
Commending the support from the Controller and Accountant General's Department, Mr Arthur acknowledged the success of the initiative and underscored the importance of continued monitoring to enhance efficiency and generate savings.
The CEO highlighted the positive impact on productivity, noting that the exercise encourages attendance and links pay to performance.
Mr Arthur emphasized the importance of staff understanding the performance appraisal system to set targets for institutions and individuals, promoting a more productive public service.
