The Employment, Labour Relations, and Pensions Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah has reported that the monitoring of public sector payroll in 120 institutions saved Ghana GH₵345 million in 2023.
At a press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information in Accra, Mr Baffour Awuah stated that the initiative reduced the wage bill and increased transparency in public sector payment processes.
Responding to questions from journalists during the briefing, Mr. Benjamin Arthur, Chief Executive of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, explained that the initiative aimed to ensure public sector employees received accurate salaries, allowances, and benefits, also revealed several discrepancies.
He highlighted that the process led to the removal of ‘ghost’ workers.
“Overall, the payroll monitoring exercise has contributed to a more efficient, transparent, and accountable public sector payroll management system,” he said.
In February 2024, Mr. Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, the Controller and Accountant General, announced that his office would remove the names of individuals who had not linked their Ghana cards to the payroll system, as part of efforts to eliminate fictitious entries in the public sector.
Speaking at the annual conference of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department in Kumasi, Mr. Kwaning-Bosompem emphasized the need for innovative methods to manage public finances and ensure a reliable payroll system.
He highlighted the launch of a two-year initiative that requires individuals on the payroll to connect their National Identification Authority (NIA) number to the payroll database.
“If you don’t have an NIA card, very soon, your pay will be disconnected,” he cautioned, emphasising that even if the NIA card is missing, the individual’s number remains on the database. Verification can be conducted, and individuals may be invited for physical validation if doubts arise”.