All government employees have received a strong warning from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) regarding maintaining proper records and removing ghost workers from the payroll system.
The government has said that starting in February 2024, employees who are paid by it but do not provide their National Identity Authority (NIA) numbers will have their salary withheld.
Following several meetings with pertinent parties, a timeframe for registration was agreed upon, leading to this decision.
To register eligible Ghanaians aged 15 and over, including those employed by the government in the public sector, the NIA has opened offices around the country. September 4, 2023, marked the beginning of the registration procedure, which will run through January.
Employees are encouraged to take advantage of the current universal registration at all 24 NIA offices, according to a statement released by Wisdom Komlan Messan, Deputy Controller and Accountant-Universal. At the registration centers, priority will be given to these people. The purpose of this instruction is to guarantee that, within the allotted time, all government employees receive their NIA cards.
It should be mentioned that the Controller and Accountant-General have already issued similar directives. This will be the second time in the last two years that the department has taken this step in an attempt to increase the payroll system’s accuracy and integrity.
Hence, it is advised that government workers act quickly and ensure they register for their NIA cards in advance of the deadline. Starting in February 2024, their salary may be withheld if they don’t.
A first step in achieving the goal of the CAGD, which is to maintain transparency and accountability in the payroll system, is this instruction.
