• Over 67,000 ineligible names identified and deleted from public payroll

• Exercise targets irregularities, duplicate records and unverifiable staff

• Savings expected to support priority sectors and fiscal consolidation

The Government of Ghana has removed more than 67,000 ghost names from its public sector payroll as part of an ongoing reform program aimed at strengthening public financial management and reducing inefficiencies in state spending.

The figure was disclosed by Deputy Minister for Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem during the 2026 Controller and Accountant-General’s Department Retreat in Koforidua on April 24, where he outlined measures being implemented to restore discipline in payroll administration.

According to the Deputy Minister, the clean-up exercise followed a review of payroll data that revealed widespread irregularities, including duplicated entries, unverifiable records and inconsistencies across various public sector institutions. These anomalies had contributed to an inflated wage bill, placing sustained pressure on government finances.

Authorities subsequently introduced a series of control measures, including biometric verification, data reconciliation processes and enhanced monitoring systems to validate employee records and eliminate ineligible beneficiaries from the payroll system. “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,” he stated.

The removal of ghost workers is expected to create fiscal space for increased public investment, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and infrastructure, while improving the credibility of government expenditure systems.

Officials say the reforms also aim to strengthen transparency and accountability in public sector compensation, with a cleaner database expected to support more accurate workforce planning, budgeting and salary management.

To prevent a recurrence, the government has introduced additional safeguards, including routine payroll audits, stricter approval processes for new entrants, and the deployment of digital tools to detect anomalies in real time. Institutional coordination has also been reinforced to ensure continuous oversight of the payroll system.

The payroll reforms also come amid tighter verification measures across other state-backed payment systems in Ghana. In April 2026, the National Service Authority reported a reduction in its payroll from about GH¢1.6 billion (about $143.72 million) to GH¢700 million following the introduction of stricter validation processes to ensure that only verified personnel receive allowances. The measures, which include reinforced payment controls and verification checks, reflect a broader government push to tighten oversight, eliminate ghost names and improve efficiency in public spending systems.

  Authorities maintain that the ongoing clean-up demonstrates the potential for significant savings through strengthened oversight mechanisms, as the government seeks to reduce waste and redirect resources toward national development priorities.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang