A nationwide payroll audit has uncovered GH¢150.36 million in unearned salaries linked to 2,408 separated staff, according to the 2026 Budget Statement presented to Parliament by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The audit, conducted by the Audit Service at the request of the Finance Minister, was aimed at cleansing public payroll data and eliminating ghost names.
The Budget Statement confirms that out of the GH¢150.36 million identified, GH¢10.00 million has already been recovered and paid into the Consolidated Fund. The report notes that recovery efforts are ongoing for the outstanding balance.
This initiative was highlighted in the budget as a demonstration of the Audit Service’s role in protecting the public purse and improving payroll integrity across the public sector.
Furthermore, the government has announced a systemic solution to prevent a recurrence. The Budget states that the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department will complete the linkage between the National Identification Authority database and the National Payroll System to eliminate ghost names and reduce payroll fraud.
