Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson says those who validate Ghost Names on the pay roll of public service will be personally liable for the loss of public funds.
Presenting the 2025 Mid-year Budget Review in parliament on Thursday July 24, 2025, Dr. Ato Forson revealed findings of an ongoing payroll audit that has raised significant concerns over the integrity of the public payroll system.
According to him, the Audit Service has been unable to identify over 14,000 individuals listed on the government payroll system, and discovered 53, 311 separated staff- employees over a period of 2023 and 2024 alone.
He noted that the audit service is expected to recover a minimum of GHS150.4 million from the separated staff.
“So far, the audit service has not been able to identify or verify over 14,000 workers. Mr. Speaker, again, they have identified 53,311 separated staff on the payroll. Mr. Speaker, separated staff are staff who are either on retirement, reassigned, terminated, or are on leave without pay, or deceased, and yet remain on government payroll. Mr. Speaker, the audit service expects to recover a minimum of 150.4 million of on-end salary from the separated staff over 2023 and 2024 period alone.”
To address this, the Finance Minister emphasized there will be zero Tolerance going forward, issuing a stern warning to public sector officials who deliberately validate ghost names.
“Right Honorable Speaker, going forward, we will enforce the monthly payroll validation process and strictly apply sanctions to all who validate GHOST for payment of salaries. Mr. Speaker, let me use this opportunity to strongly caution those who validate GHOST across the public, across the public service, that they will be personally liable for the loss of public funds. Mr. Speaker, let me repeat.”
“Let me use this opportunity to strongly caution those who validate GHOST across the public service that they will be personally liable for the loss of public funds. Right Honorable Speaker, the Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor this payroll and put in place measures to prevent GHOST on the payroll going forward.”
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