Over 53,000 Inactive Government Workers Removed from Payroll After Nationwide Audit

Over 53,000 Inactive Government Workers Removed from Payroll After Nationwide Audit.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has implemented sweeping payroll reforms following a nationwide audit, resulting in the removal of over 53,000 individuals from the public payroll. 

This action comes in response to findings from the 2025 Payroll Headcount Exercise conducted by the Ghana Audit Service, which uncovered widespread payroll irregularities involving inactive or separated staff who continued to receive unearned salaries.

According to the CAGD, the salaries of 47,638 individuals have been permanently terminated, and their names deleted from the payroll system. An additional 5,673 employees, who were scheduled to be paid in July 2025, have had their salaries suspended pending further verification. These measures form part of the government’s broader effort to curb waste, ensure fiscal responsibility, and strengthen public sector accountability.

Institutional heads have been instructed to take immediate steps to recover wrongful salary payments made to the affected individuals. This recovery process is critical to safeguarding state funds and reinforcing proper validation practices across all ministries, departments, and agencies.

The department further noted that any employee who believes their salary was wrongfully stopped should obtain a formal confirmation of active service from their institution. Such confirmation letters must be addressed to the Auditor-General, with a copy sent to the Ministry of Finance, to facilitate a detailed review and appropriate corrective action.

This bold move by the CAGD reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring transparency, efficiency, and integrity in the management of public resources.