Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced the launch of a digital solution aimed at eliminating ‘ghost names’ from the Government of Ghana payroll.
The system, he unveiled, involves the linking of the National Mechanised Payroll Database of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) with the National Identification Authority (NIA) Database, ensuring real-time biometric validation and verification of applicants.
The primary objective of this system is to enhance transparency, accountability, and data accuracy for better decision-making within the government.
By integrating the payroll database with the NIA database, the system will immediately validate and verify new as well as existing employees.
This process will eliminate the presence of ‘ghost names’, that is, fictitious or non-existent employees who appear on the payroll, reducing fraudulent practices and saving the government significant costs associated with regular payroll audits across the country.
One of the key benefits of the new digital solution is its decentralization. The biometric validation and verification of applicants will take place at various CAGD Verification Centres throughout the country.
This initiative aims to make the process more accessible and convenient for users, eliminating the need for individuals to travel to Accra for validation and verification purposes.
Furthermore, the integration of the CAGD and NIA databases will enable real-time auditing at the source, eliminating the need for extensive manual audit processes. This feature will help save the government substantial time and financial resources.
During the launch event, Vice President Bawumia emphasized the importance of the digital solution in combating corruption and ensuring efficient use of public funds.
He expressed his confidence that this initiative would bring about positive change in the country’s payroll system, promoting transparency and accountability among government employees.
As the November 2024 elections draw nearer, Dr Bawumia’s announcement highlights the NPP’s commitment to tackling corruption and improving governance in Ghana.
The digital solution to eliminate ‘ghost names’ on the government payroll is a significant step towards achieving these goals, an action that is likely to resonate positively with the electorate.
By Vincent Kubi