The Ghana Audit Service has disclosed that a total of GH¢57.2 million in unearned salaries has been recovered, as part of intensified efforts to safeguard public funds and enforce accountability across the public sector.
According to the Auditor-General of Ghana, the recovered amount represents payments made to individuals who were either no longer in active service, improperly validated on government payrolls, or had irregularities in their employment status. The development forms part of ongoing payroll audits aimed at eliminating ghost names and strengthening financial discipline within state institutions.
The Auditor-General indicated that beyond the recovery of the funds, steps are being taken to hold responsible officials accountable. Supervisors and heads of institutions who failed in their duty to properly validate and monitor payroll records are expected to be surcharged in accordance with the law.
He stressed that public officials entrusted with overseeing staff records and salary validation processes cannot evade responsibility when lapses result in financial loss to the state. “Supervisory failures that lead to such irregular payments will attract sanctions, including surcharges to recover the amounts involved,” the Auditor-General stated.
The exercise is part of a broader national effort to enhance transparency and plug revenue leakages within the public financial management system. Authorities say the initiative has been strengthened through improved data verification systems and closer collaboration between relevant government agencies.
The Auditor-General further assured that similar audits will continue across all sectors, warning that any institution found to be complicit in payroll fraud or negligence will face strict consequences.
The recovery of the GH¢57.2 million is being viewed as a significant step in the fight against financial irregularities, with officials emphasizing that protecting the public purse remains a top priority for the state.
As enforcement measures intensify, public sector workers and administrators have been urged to comply strictly with payroll validation processes to avoid sanctions, while citizens are being assured that efforts to ensure accountability and prudent use of state resources are being sustained.
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