Ghana Probes 81,000 Suspected Ghost Workers in Payroll

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has initiated an investigation into the National Service Authority following the discovery of over 81,000 suspected ghost names on its payroll. This finding emerged from a headcount conducted to address outstanding allowance payments, revealing discrepancies between active personnel and payroll data. The finance ministry had previously disbursed 226 million Ghana cedis ($14.6 million) to approximately 98,000 legitimate employees. Mahama, who returned to office in January, is committed to combating corruption in the nation, which is recovering from a severe economic crisis. Additionally, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been declared a wanted fugitive by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in relation to corruption investigations. The government is emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability within the agency.