In a bid to ensure accurate records and eliminate ghost workers from the payroll system, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has issued a stern warning to all government workers.
The department has announced that from February 2024, the salaries of workers on its payroll who fail to furnish their National Identification Authority (NIA) numbers will be seized.
This decision comes after a series of meetings with relevant stakeholders, which resulted in an agreement on timelines for registration.
The NIA has already opened its offices nationwide for the registration of eligible Ghanaians aged 15 and above, including public sector employees on the government’s payroll.
The registration process started on September 4, 2023, and will continue until January.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Controller and Accountant-General, Wisdom Komlan Messan, staff members were urged to take advantage of the ongoing general registration at all 24 NIA offices. These individuals will be given priority at the registration centers. This directive aims to ensure that all government workers obtain their NIA cards within the given timeframe.
It should be noted that this is not the first time such a directive has been issued by the Controller and Accountant-General. In an effort to improve the accuracy and integrity of the payroll system, this will be the second time in the past two years that the department has taken this action.
The implementation of this directive is crucial in addressing the issue of ghost workers and establishing accurate records of all government employees.
The CAGD believes that by linking NIA numbers to salary payments, they can eliminate any potential fraudulent activity and ensure that only eligible individuals receive their salaries.
Government workers are therefore advised to act promptly and ensure that they register for their NIA cards before the deadline.
Failure to do so may result in the seizure of their salaries from February 2024 onwards.
The CAGD remains firm in its commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability within the payroll system, and this directive is one step towards achieving this goal.
By Vincent Kubi