The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has disclosed a sweeping revelation that over 53,000 ghost names—individuals who are retired, deceased, or have left the public service—have been fraudulently maintained on the government’s payroll, draining over GH¢150.4 million between 2023 and 2024.
Addressing Parliament during the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, Dr. Forson cited findings from a nationwide audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service.
The exercise, which has so far reviewed 91% of public sector institutions, also flagged more than 14,000 workers whose employment credentials could not be verified.
“We must stop paying salaries to ghosts while genuine staff go unpaid. We’re instituting monthly validation and recovering every cedi lost,” he declared.
According to him, the Ministry will enforce strict payroll validation procedures, introduce biometric verification systems, and apply disciplinary and criminal sanctions against those who enabled the scheme, including staff who knowingly approved salaries for non-existent personnel.
Breakdown of Findings:
| Category | Number of Cases | Estimated Loss (GH¢) |
| Ghost Names (Separated Staff) | 53,311 | 150.4 million |
| Unverified Workers | 14,000+ | Under review |
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The list below, chanced upon by Coleman Publications, is alleged to be the findings from the audit.
The Finance Minister also disclosed that new recruitment into the public sector will only proceed once the necessary audits are concluded, ensuring that future recruitments reflect genuine needs and verified credentials.
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