CAGD Drops Full Details of Termination of Salaries of Over 53,000 Staff
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department of Ghana has taken a significant step towards eliminating “ghost workers” from the government payroll. In a letter dated July 24, 2025, the department announced that 53,311 staff were identified as separated staff and were being paid, following a nationwide payroll headcount exercise conducted by the Ghana Audit Service.
Table of Contents
Key Findings of the Audit
– 5,673 employees had their salaries suspended pending further investigations
– 47,638 officers had their salaries terminated and were removed from the current payroll
– All heads of institutions are required to recover unearned salaries paid to inactive or separated staff
The audit, which was initiated by the Auditor-General’s office in March 2025, aimed to verify the legitimacy of employees on the government payroll and eliminate irregularities. The exercise involved a physical headcount of staff and a thorough review of payroll records, including electronic salary vouchers, nominal rolls, and employment files.
Impact of the Audit
The nationwide payroll audit is expected to have a significant impact on Ghana’s public finances, promoting transparency and accountability in government operations. By eliminating “ghost workers” and ensuring that only legitimate employees are on the payroll, the government can reduce wasteful expenditure and prevent fraud.
Next Steps
Affected employees will be notified electronically or in hard copy, and those whose salaries have been stopped but are still at their posts are required to submit a letter to the Auditor-General, with a copy to the Ministry of Finance, to enable remedial action. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department is working to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to recover unearned salaries and prevent similar irregularities in the future.
