The Office of the Auditor-General has announced a comprehensive nationwide audit of all government payrolls, targeting ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and subvented organizations under the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD). Apexnewsgh reports
In a letter dated March 28, 2025, Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu disclosed that the audit will cover payroll records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, and will include a physical headcount of all staff on the government payroll.
The exercise aims to verify the legitimacy of employees on the government payroll, eliminate ghost names, and ensure proper utilization of public funds. The Auditor-General’s office has called for full cooperation from all institutions, urging them to grant auditors unrestricted access to financial records, books, electronic documents, and other relevant payroll data.
The letter cited Article 187(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 11(2) of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), which empower the Auditor-General to demand such access for effective auditing.
All ministries and affiliated agencies have been instructed to prepare for the audit and ensure that their payroll records are readily available. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen fiscal discipline and curb irregularities in public sector wage administration.
This audit follows previous exercises that uncovered discrepancies in government payrolls, including payments to non-existent workers. The Auditor-General’s office has emphasized the need for timely completion of the exercise to restore confidence in public financial management.
With the audit set to commence soon, government institutions are expected to cooperate fully to facilitate a smooth process. The findings will be critical in shaping future payroll reforms and ensuring that Ghana’s public sector compensation system remains transparent and efficient.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
