Government removes 67,000 'ghost' names from payroll - Thomas Ampem

Government has removed more than 67,000 'ghost' names from the public sector payroll through an ongoing payroll reform programme, saving the state millions of cedis in the process, the Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem has disclosed.

Speaking at the 2026 Controller and Accountant-General’s Department Retreat in Koforidua, he said the exercise forms part of broader efforts to restore discipline in public financial management and ensure that government resources are directed toward national development priorities.

He explained that the payroll clean-up followed reviews that uncovered irregularities, unverifiable records, and duplicated entries within sections of the public sector salary system.

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According to him, these anomalies had over the years placed pressure on the national wage bill and diverted funds that could have supported key sectors of the economy.

He said government responded by introducing stricter verification processes, biometric validation, data reconciliation, and enhanced monitoring systems to identify and remove ineligible names from the payroll.

“Our payroll reforms have eliminated over 67,000 'ghost' names. This has saved government millions of cedis and ensured that public resources are used for their intended purpose,” the Deputy Minister stated.

Nyarko Ampem noted that the savings would create additional fiscal space for investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other essential services.

He stressed that the reforms go beyond cost savings, emphasising integrity, fairness, and transparency in the public sector compensation system.

He added that a cleaner payroll database now enables more accurate workforce planning, budgeting, and salary management.

To prevent a recurrence of 'ghost' names, he said government has introduced stronger safeguards, including regular audits, tighter recruitment approvals, institutional coordination, and digital monitoring tools to detect suspicious entries.

“We are building a system where only genuine workers receive salaries. Public funds must serve the people, not fraudulent schemes,” he said.

He further disclosed that similar reforms have been extended to other state-supported payment systems where irregularities had been identified.

Nyarko Ampem commended public institutions that supported the verification exercise, saying their cooperation helped achieve significant results within a short period.

He assured legitimate public sector workers that the reforms are intended to strengthen the system and ensure timely and accurate salary payments.

The Deputy Minister stressed that government remains committed to deepening reforms that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen public trust in state institutions.

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