Auditor-General recovers GH¢57.2m in wrongful salaries, targets supervisors for sanctions

The Auditor-General’s Department has recovered GH¢57.2 million in unearned salaries from public sector workers who remained on the government payroll despite being absent from duty or failing mandatory validation processes.

According to the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, the recoveries spanning from 2023 to April 2026 were first lodged into a designated recoveries account held with commercial banks before being transferred to the Consolidated Fund in compliance with financial regulations.

He explained in an interview with the Daily Graphic that the figures reflect intensified efforts to eliminate “ghost names” from the public payroll system. He emphasized that auditors will strictly enforce validation procedures and impose surcharges on individuals who receive salaries without entitlement.

A breakdown of the recoveries shows that GH¢29.5 million was retrieved between 2023 and 2024, followed by GH¢20.4 million in 2025 due to expanded audit operations. An additional GH¢7.3 million was recovered between January and April 2026, bringing the cumulative total to GH¢57.2 million.

Mr. Asiedu also issued a strong warning to supervisors and heads of institutions, stating that those who approve payrolls without verifying staff presence will be held personally accountable. He noted that such officials could face financial penalties for endorsing payments to absent workers.

The audit process involves cross-checking payroll data against attendance records, validation systems, and official postings. Where discrepancies are identified, affected individuals are surcharged and required to refund the unearned amounts into the recoveries account.

Failure to comply may result in the issuance of a certificate of indebtedness, allowing the state to recover funds through deductions or legal action. The Public Accounts Committee has welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant step in combating payroll fraud.

Mr. Asiedu further indicated that institutional heads who facilitate such irregularities may face disciplinary measures in addition to financial penalties. He added that plans are underway to publicly disclose the names of surcharged individuals and their supervisors to deter future infractions.

The Auditor-General assured that validation exercises are now conducted quarterly to ensure only legitimate employees remain on the payroll. He reiterated the commitment of the Auditor-General’s Department to fully cleanse the system and eliminate payroll fraud.

All recovered funds have been transferred to the Consolidated Fund in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).