The Auditor-General's Department has recovered GHS 57.2 million in unearned salaries. These funds were paid to public sector workers who were not present at their posts. The period for these recoveries spans from 2023 to April 2026.
This significant sum was collected from individuals who either were absent from their duties or failed mandatory identity checks. The recovered money has been moved into a dedicated account. It has since been transferred to the Consolidated Fund, Ghana's main government savings account. This action underlines the government's serious push to clean up the public payroll.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure public funds are used efficiently. Ghana's economy has faced challenges, making such savings crucial. Prior audits have often highlighted issues with ghost names and ghost workers on government payrolls. These phantom employees drain public resources. The recoveries represent a tangible win against financial leakage in the public sector. Previous reports from the Auditor-General's Department have detailed similar but smaller-scale recoveries.
Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu stated his department's commitment. "Auditors will comply fully with validation checks and surcharge every person who is paid unearned salaries," he said. "We are determined to completely do away with ghost names on the payroll." Supervisors who approve payrolls without verifying employee attendance will also be held responsible. They risk facing personal financial penalties known as surcharges.
The implications of these recoveries are far-reaching. Ministries, departments, and agencies will likely face increased scrutiny over staff records. This stricter oversight aims to prevent future instances of payroll fraud. The Auditor-General's Department plans to publish names of those surcharged. This aims to act as a strong warning. Further validation exercises are now happening every three months. This ensures that only actively employed individuals remain on the payroll.
The total recovered amount increased steadily. In 2023 and 2024, GHS 29.5 million was recovered. In 2025, this figure rose to GHS 20.4 million due to enhanced audit checks. From January to April 2026 alone, GHS 7.3 million was recovered. These funds were initially placed in a special recoveries account. After final checks, they were sent to the Consolidated Fund. This aligns with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, Act 921.
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has praised these recovery efforts. They view it as a significant victory against payroll fraud. Heads of institutions found to be complicit may face disciplinary actions in addition to surcharges. The Auditor-General assured the public that the payroll cleansing process will continue. This will extend until the system is completely free of unauthorized names.