Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has revealed alarming irregularities in Ghana’s public payroll system, following a nationwide audit that uncovered over 14,000 ghost workers and GHS150.4 million in unearned salary payments.
Presenting the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament on Thursday, July 24, Dr. Forson disclosed that the Ghana Audit Service, commissioned by the Ministry of Finance, has completed 91% of a comprehensive payroll audit across all 16 regions of the country.
“So far, the Audit Service has not been able to identify or verify more than 14,000 workers,” he told the House.
In addition, the audit revealed that 53,307 individuals—classified as retired, reassigned, terminated, on leave without pay, or deceased—are still on the government payroll and continue to receive salaries.
Dr. Forson stated that the state is expected to recover at least GHS150.4 million in unearned salaries linked to these "separated staff" over the 2023 and 2024 period.
Describing the findings as deeply troubling, the Minister emphasized the urgent need for tighter payroll controls and accountability.
“Going forward, we will enforce the monthly payroll validation system and strictly apply sanctions to anyone who violates salary payment protocols,” he said.
The Finance Ministry, he added, is committed to cleaning up the public payroll system to ensure fiscal discipline and protect public funds.
