Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced the rollout of a new policy by the government to streamline the government’s payroll.
The new policy would ensure that all government workers link their Ghana Card details to the payroll.
Speaking at the launch of the National Mechanised Payroll Database of the Controller and Accountant General’s Department in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Bawumia said the government’s payroll would be purged of Ghost names soon.
“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,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in November 2023 announced the commencement of an investigation and corruption risk analysis into the government’s payroll, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), state lands, stool lands, and other vested lands.
Regarding the government’s payroll, he said the assessment and investigation were aimed at isolating and removing non-existent names, recovering wrongful payments, and prosecuting persons suspected to be culpable for any offence (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 added.
Regarding state lands and other lands, the special prosecutor said his office had commenced an investigation into the appropriation, sale, and lease of State-owned lands and properties to individuals and corporate bodies since the year 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.