Payroll reforms remove 67,000 ghost names

The Ministry of Finance, Ghana, says ongoing payroll reforms have eliminated more than 67,000 ghost names from the public sector salary system.

Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, disclosed that the exercise has saved the government millions of cedis.

He said the reforms, announced at the 2026 retreat of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department in Koforidua, were part of efforts to restore discipline in public financial management.

According to him, the payroll audit uncovered irregularities, unverifiable records, and duplicated entries that had increased the national wage bill.

He said measures introduced include biometric validation, data reconciliation, stricter verification processes, and enhanced monitoring systems.

Hon. Ampem noted that the savings will create fiscal space for investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other sectors.

He added that safeguards such as regular audits, tighter approval systems, and digital tools have been implemented to prevent the reintroduction of ghost names.

He said the reforms aim to promote transparency, ensure only legitimate workers are paid, and improve efficiency in managing the public workforce.