The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has explained why the salaries of more than 2,000 public sector workers were temporarily suspended, assuring affected staff that their pay will be restored once mandatory verification processes are completed.
According to the CAGD, the salary freeze was not punitive but formed part of routine payroll integrity measures arising from recommendations by the Auditor-General, in line with Ghana’s Public Financial Management (PFM) laws.
Speaking to Citi News on Monday, February 2, 2026, the Controller and Accountant-General, Kwasi Agyei, said the action followed a nationwide headcount exercise conducted by the Ghana Audit Service last year.
He explained that the Auditor-General had initially flagged about 6,000 public sector workers who failed to participate in the exercise and therefore could not be validated on the government payroll.
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“After our own internal checks, we realised that many of those issues had already been resolved at institutional levels. In the end, only about 2,000 officers remained unverified and were affected by the suspension,” Mr. Agyei said.
What Triggered the Salary Suspension
The Controller and Accountant-General noted that payroll verification is a statutory requirement designed to eliminate ghost names, prevent revenue leakages, and ensure that only duly employed staff are paid from the Consolidated Fund.
“As managers of the government payroll, we are required by law to act on the Auditor-General’s recommendations. Once officers are flagged as unverified, we cannot legally continue paying them,” he explained.
He stressed that the suspension was implemented transparently and that all affected institutions had been formally notified to alert their staff.
What Affected Workers Must Do
Mr. Agyei said the path to salary restoration is straightforward.
Affected workers are required to:
- Present themselves to the Ghana Audit Service for verification
- Confirm their employment status and documentation
- Await formal clearance and notification to the CAGD
“Once the Auditor-General completes the verification and officially communicates to us, we will immediately reactivate their salaries,” he assured.
Will Arrears Be Paid?
Although the CAGD did not explicitly state timelines for arrears, officials indicated that payments would be regularised once verification is completed, consistent with PFM rules.
The Department reiterated its commitment to protecting genuine public servants while safeguarding the integrity of the national payroll.
“Our objective is not to punish workers but to maintain a clean, credible and lawful payroll system,” Mr. Agyei said.
The CAGD urged affected staff to cooperate fully with the verification process to avoid further delays, adding that the exercise ultimately strengthens accountability and public trust in state institutions.
