Investigations reveal significant presence of ghost names on the payroll – Finance Minister

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has met with the leadership of Ghana’s key tertiary education unions—UTAG, TUTAG, and CETAG—to provide an update on payroll reforms and to address concerns over the disbursement of the Book and Research Allowance.

The meeting followed a formal request from the unions seeking clarification on the allowance and its inclusion in the 2025 fiscal plan.

Dr. Forson confirmed that the allowance has been fully accounted for in the 2025 Budget and assured the union leaders that steps are already underway to facilitate its release in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Addressing broader financial reforms, the Finance Minister briefed the unions on the ongoing payroll audit being conducted by the Auditor-General’s Department. He revealed that early findings point to a troubling number of fictitious entries on the government payroll.

“During our meeting, I took the opportunity to update the leadership on ongoing payroll reforms, particularly the audit being conducted by the Auditor-General. Preliminary findings indicate a significant presence of ghost names on the payroll, a situation that, if addressed decisively, could yield substantial savings for the public purse,” he stated.

Dr. Forson appealed for the unions’ cooperation and backing in the payroll clean-up effort, underlining the importance of transparency and accountability in public service remuneration.

“I urged the union leaders to lend their support to this important national exercise. Cleaning the payroll is not only about fiscal prudence; it is also about restoring integrity and fairness in public sector compensation."

In a gesture of goodwill, the Minister also praised the unions for proposing the creation of a Labour Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance—a suggestion he believes will improve engagement between government and organized labour.

“I also commended the unions for their constructive proposal to establish a dedicated Labour Relations Desk within the Ministry of Finance. This initiative, once operationalised, will strengthen coordination with our counterparts on the labour front and enhance dialogue and responsiveness,” he added.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering collaboration with all stakeholders in building a fair, sustainable, and transparent public sector.

“We remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to build a sustainable, equitable, and accountable public service,” he added.