Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President, has announced the government’s introduction of a new policy aimed at streamlining the payroll process.
All government employees will be required to link their Ghana Card information to their payroll under the new regulation.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Controller and Accountant General’s Department’s National Mechanized Payroll Database inauguration in Accra, Dr. Bawumia announced that Ghost names will soon be removed from the government payroll.
“This linkage between the NIA database and the government payroll will significantly contribute to eliminating the incidence of ghost names on the government of Ghana’s mechanised payroll system, which has persisted for some time,”
said Dr. Bawumia.
In the meanwhile, an inquiry and corruption risk assessment of the government’s payroll, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), state properties, stool lands, and other vested lands were announced by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in November 2023.
He stated that the evaluation and inquiry of the government payroll was intended to identify and eliminate names that were not there, retrieve payments that were made in error, and bring charges against anyone who was thought to be responsible for any offense (s).
“The Controller and Accountant General’s Department is collaborating with the OSP on the investigation and assessment. A joint project team of selected staff from the two institutions has been formed. The investigation and assessment will cover all banks and employees on the government payroll.”
“The exercise will be carried out in two phases. Phase I will cover the Ghana Education Service and health institutions. Phase II will cover all other Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies,” he said.
Concerning TOR, Mr. Agyebeng said his office had commenced an analysis of the risk of corruption concerning the proposed partnership agreement between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited (TEPL).
“The Special Prosecutor has directed the Management of Tema Oil Refinery to immediately suspend the proposed partnership agreement, ongoing negotiations, operations, and all other ancillary activities arising out of and consequent upon the proposed partnership agreement until otherwise advised by the Special Prosecutor,”
He continued.
The special prosecutor stated that, with regard to state lands and other areas, his office had been looking into the taking, selling, and leasing of State-owned assets and lands to private citizens and businesses since 1993.
“The investigation covers all lands and properties that fall under the direct stewardship of the Lands Commission; the Ministry of Works and Housing; all other Ministries; State Housing Company; State-Owned Companies; and other State agencies. The investigation also covers the management of vested lands and all public lands over which the State’s ownership or control has been relinquished and the conditions of release,” he said.
