Payroll Reforms Yield GHS 345 Million in Savings Amid Crackdown on ‘Ghost’ Workers
Ghana’s public sector payroll overhaul has delivered GHS 345 million in savings for 2023, according to Employment Minister Ignatius Baffour Awuah.
The initiative, which scrutinized payrolls across 120 institutions, is part of broader efforts to streamline wage expenditures and enhance transparency within the public sector.
Speaking at a Ministry of Information briefing in Accra, Mr Baffour Awuah attributed the savings to the elimination of ‘ghost’ workers and the correction of salary discrepancies, noting that the reforms have brought greater efficiency and accountability to the payroll system.
Benjamin Arthur, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, underscored the significance of these measures, revealing that the audit had uncovered several anomalies in the payroll process.
The exercise is part of an ongoing drive to ensure that only eligible employees receive appropriate compensation.
Further tightening is expected as Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, Ghana’s Controller and Accountant General, announced plans to expunge employees from the payroll who have not linked their Ghana Card to the system.
Speaking at a recent conference in Kumasi, Mr Kwaning-Bosompem highlighted the initiative’s role in fortifying the integrity of public finance management, warning that non-compliant employees would soon face disconnection from the payroll.
The initiative is part of a two-year drive to align Ghana’s payroll system with national identification standards, a move seen as critical to maintaining a reliable and trustworthy payment system.
