Ghana Probes 81,000 Fake Workers on Government Payroll
(Based on reporting by Reuters)
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has ordered an investigation after more than 81,000 suspected “ghost workers” were found on the payroll of the National Service Authority. These “ghost names” are fake or non-existent workers who were likely added to steal money.
The discovery came during a headcount to clear unpaid allowances at the agency, which manages a one-year work program for graduates.
A statement from the presidency said the finance ministry had already paid 226 million Ghana cedis ($14.6 million) to about 98,000 real workers. It’s unclear how much money might have been lost to the fake names.
President Mahama, who returned to office in January, has promised to fight corruption in Ghana, a country rich in oil and gold but recovering from its worst economic crisis in decades.
In a related development, Ghana’s anti-corruption agency, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a “wanted fugitive.”
He is being investigated for his alleged role in five corrupt transactions. Ofori-Atta was not available to comment on the allegations.
This crackdown on corruption shows Ghana’s efforts to clean up its government systems and ensure public money is used properly.
(This summary is based on original reporting by Reuters.)