CAGD Cuts Salaries of 53,000 Workers – Affected Staff Urged to Act Fast
The Controller and Accountant-General Department terminates salaries of over 53,000 inactive workers.
In this article, we will explore you through what affected staff are advised to do immediately.
Following the 2025 payroll audit, Ghana terminates salaries of over 53,000 inactive government workers. Affected staff are advised to submit letters for redress. Read full details on actions to take and official directives.
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Controller and Accountant-General Department Terminates Salaries of Over 53,000 Staff
In a landmark crackdown aimed at sanitizing the government payroll and safeguarding public funds, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has issued a directive for the termination of salaries for over 53,000 inactive or separated public sector staff.
The directive follows the findings of the 2025 Nationwide Payroll Headcount Exercise conducted by the Ghana Audit Service, which revealed shocking levels of irregular salary payments to separated staff.
The letter, dated 24th July 2025 and signed by Sylvester Acquah, Acting Deputy Controller & Accountant-General (Payroll Management), lays out detailed instructions for halting unwarranted payments and taking corrective actions across all public institutions.
Background: The Shocking Numbers from the Payroll Audit
The 2025 payroll headcount revealed that Fifty-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven (53,311) public officers were listed as separated staff, meaning they were no longer in active service, but were still drawing salaries from the national payroll. This revelation sent waves across the public service landscape, raising concerns about payroll inefficiencies, negligence, and even possible fraud.
As part of immediate corrective action, 5,673 employees, who were due for salary payment in July 2025, have had their salaries suspended for further investigation.
A further 47,638 officers have had their salaries completely terminated, as they were confirmed to be inactive and did not appear on the current payroll.
Directive to Institutions: Recover Unearned Salaries
The Controller & Accountant-General’s Department did not stop at salary suspension and termination. The directive also requires all heads of institutions to take swift action in recovering unearned salaries that may have been paid to separated staff as a result of wrongful validation.
This reflects the government’s commitment to not only halt financial leakages but also retrieve lost public funds.
Crucial Action for Affected Employees: Here’s What You Must Do
The most significant part of this directive and a lifeline for affected staff is the clear guidance given to those whose salaries were stopped but believe they were wrongly affected. Here’s what such employees must do:
“Any affected government employee whose salary has been stopped but is at post should be issued a letter from their respective covered entities addressed to the Auditor-General with the Ministry of Finance in copy, to enable appropriate remedial action to be taken.”
This step is non-negotiable for any affected individual who is actively at post and believes their name was mistakenly removed. The CAGD is giving you a formal path to clear your name and be reinstated, but you must act swiftly and correctly.
Step-by-Step Breakdown for Affected Staff:
1. Obtain an Official Letter
The letter must be issued by your employer or covered entity (e.g., your department or institution), confirming that you are still actively working.
2. Address the Letter to the Auditor-General
This ensures that the Ghana Audit Service can review your case as part of the broader payroll sanitization effort.
3. Copy the Ministry of Finance
Including the Ministry in the correspondence ensures that the financial gatekeepers are aware of your situation and can take the necessary remedial action.
4. Submit Promptly
Delayed submission may result in further withholding of your salary, possible deletion from future payrolls, or missing out on corrective reinstatement.
This paragraph is vital, it ensures due process while offering a fair chance for genuinely affected workers to be reinstated. It also emphasizes that reinstatement is not automatic, you must act, and documentation is key.
Electronic List of Affected Employees
The CAGD has promised to send the list of affected employees electronically or in hard copy, depending on what suits the institution. This list will help organizations verify who has been impacted and track progress on remedial action or recovery of funds.
Heads of institutions must cross-reference these lists with internal HR records to determine which staff require letters and which payments were made erroneously.
Why This Move Matters
Ghana loses millions annually to payroll inefficiencies and “ghost names.” The 2025 payroll audit, coupled with these decisive actions, is part of a larger effort to:
1. Promote fiscal discipline,
2. Clean up government payrolls, and
3. Restore trust in public financial management.
The ripple effect of this policy will not only save the government money but also ensure that resources are directed to more urgent national needs such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Summary of Key Points:
1. 53,311 separated staff identified on government payroll.
2. 5,673 salaries suspended, 47,638 salaries terminated.
3. Heads of institutions instructed to recover unearned salaries.
4. Affected employees at post must submit a letter from their institution to the Auditor-General, copying the Ministry of Finance, to trigger a review and possible reinstatement.
5. Non-compliance may attract serious administrative sanctions.
Source: quarmsmedia.com