The Auditor-General’s Department Ghana has recovered GH¢57.2 million in unearned salaries from public sector workers who remained on government payroll despite being absent from duty or failing mandatory validation checks.
The recoveries, made between 2023 and April 2026, were initially lodged in a special recoveries account before being transferred to the Consolidated Fund in line with financial regulations.
Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu said the exercise reflects intensified efforts to eliminate payroll fraud and remove ghost names from the public sector system.
“We are determined to completely do away with ghost names on the payroll. Auditors will enforce validation checks and surcharge every individual who receives unearned salaries,” he stated whilst making the revelation.
Breakdown of recoveries
Official data show that:
GH¢29.5 million was recovered in 2023 and 2024, GH¢20.4 million was retrieved in 2025, GH¢7.3 million has been recovered between January and April 2026 and this brings total recoveries over the period to GH¢57.2 million.
Supervisors face personal liability
The Auditor-General warned that the crackdown will extend beyond affected employees to include supervisors and managers who approve payrolls without proper verification.
“Supervisors who certify payrolls knowing that individuals are not at post will be surcharged personally,” Mr Asiedu cautioned.
The move is expected to tighten oversight across ministries, departments and agencies, where weak controls have historically enabled salary irregularities.
Audit process and enforcement
According to the Auditor-General, payroll audits involve cross-checking: validation data, attendance records, and posting documentation.
Where discrepancies are identified, affected individuals are issued surcharges and required to refund the unearned salaries.
Failure to comply may result in a certificate of indebtedness, allowing recovery through salary deductions or legal action.
Parliamentary backing and next steps
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament Ghana has welcomed the recoveries, describing them as a significant step in combating payroll fraud.
Mr Asiedu indicated that the department may soon publish the names of surcharged individuals and their supervisors as a deterrent, alongside recommendations for disciplinary action against culpable officials.
He added that validation exercises are now conducted quarterly to ensure only verified employees remain on the payroll.
Legal compliance
All recovered funds have been transferred to the Consolidated Fund in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act 2016.
Despite ongoing appeals from some affected individuals, the Auditor-General maintained that recovery efforts will continue until the payroll system is fully cleansed.
“Ghost names will become a thing of the past,” he affirmed.
Source: businesspostonline
