No show, no salary: Controller suspends wages of 2,563 government workers for snubbing headcount
The salaries of 2,563 government employees have been abruptly halted after they failed to present themselves for a critical nationwide headcount, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has announced.
The drastic measure, implemented for January 2026 pay, follows a direct recommendation from the Auditor-General and underscores a stringent crackdown on the public payroll.
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In a press release dated 30th January 2026, signed by Head of Public Relations Cephas N. Bosoo, the department stated that while salaries for the broader workforce had been processed, payments for the affected personnel were suspended "for failing to avail themselves during the nation-wide headcount exercise conducted across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in 2025 by the Ghana Audit Service."
The sweeping verification exercise was designed to audit and sanitise the government payroll, a move aimed at eliminating ghost names and ensuring financial accountability.
The CAGD has now issued an urgent directive to those impacted, urging them to "contact the Ghana Audit Service promptly for necessary clearance."
The statement emphasised that affected individuals must "ensure their employment status is verified to guarantee reinstatement of their salaries."
The department sought to reassure the public amidst the punitive action, asserting its "continued commitment to transparency, accountability and the timely payment of salaries in accordance with established Public Financial Management Laws."
