Thousands of public sector workers across the country are grappling with unexpected salary suspensions and terminations following the 2025 Nationwide Payroll Headcount Exercise conducted by the Ghana Audit Service.
The audit, which aimed to clean up the government’s payroll, revealed that 53,311 individuals listed as separated staff were still being paid, drawing salaries despite no longer serving in active roles.
In response to these findings, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has suspended payments for 5,673 government employees processed in July 2025.
This action is part of broader efforts to investigate questionable payroll entries and protect the public purse.
An additional 47,638 names have been fully removed from the payroll, effectively terminating salary disbursements for employees deemed inactive or separated from service.
While some of these cases involve legitimate exits—such as retirement, resignation, or transfer—others are suspected to stem from wrongful validations, administrative lapses, or outdated personnel records.
The financial implications are significant, prompting swift action from the Ministry of Finance and affiliated institutions.
What to Do if You’re Affected
If your salary was suspended but you remain actively at post, the CAGD has issued clear guidance to help restore your payroll inclusion:
- Obtain a formal letter from your covered entity or employing institution.
- The letter must be addressed to the Auditor-General, with a copy forwarded to the Ministry of Finance.
- This letter should confirm your current post status and request remedial action to reinstate your salary.
According to the CAGD, affected institutions will receive lists of suspended and terminated staff via email or hard copy, allowing them to cross-reference current employees and ensure valid staff are not unfairly penalised.
Heads of Institutions
Institutional heads are under instruction to commence salary recovery efforts for any unearned payments made to separated staff.
This means reviewing their validation records, notifying affected individuals, and collaborating with payroll officials to rectify the errors.
According to the CAGD, in cases of wrongful validation, disciplinary measures may be considered, depending on internal policies.
According to Mr. Sylvester Acquah, the Acting Deputy Controller and Accountant-General, the operation is part of Ghana’s broader strategy to enhance transparency and integrity within the public sector.
“Maintaining a clean payroll is essential not just for financial sustainability, but for restoring trust in our institutions,” he emphasised.
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