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If you’re a government employee in Ghana and your salary hasn’t landed as expected, you’re not alone. A significant administrative move by the Controller and Accountant General’s Department (CAGD) has left many public sector workers in a state of uncertainty following a halt in salary payments.
The cause? A recent payroll audit uncovered discrepancies in the National Identification Authority (NIA) numbers of some employees on the government’s payroll.
The Audit That Uncovered the Issue
In a bid to streamline payroll and eliminate ghost names, the CAGD conducted a routine audit. This exercise revealed a critical issue: numerous records contained mismatched or inconsistent NIA numbers. To maintain the integrity of the government’s payroll system, the CAGD took the decisive step of suspending salary payments for the affected individuals until the discrepancies are resolved.
A circular from the department confirmed that this move is a necessary compliance measure to ensure that salaries are paid only to properly identified and verified employees.
The Path to Resolution: What HR Managers Must Do
For the affected employees to get back on the payroll, swift action is required from their respective institutions. The CAGD has laid out a clear, if urgent, procedure to rectify the situation:
Submit an Updated Nominal Roll: All impacted institutions are required to submit their updated staff lists (the Nominal Roll) for review.
Access Payroll Data: Human Resource managers have been instructed to access the relevant payroll data from their official email addresses.
Provide Corrected Information: They must then provide the correct NIA information for each affected staff member, accompanied by a reason for the initial discrepancy.
Submit Electronically: The updated and corrected details must be sent electronically to ppd.nominalroll@cagd.gov.gh with a copy to ppdcoordination2@gmail.com.
This process is crucial for reinstating the salary payments and ensuring future payments are not interrupted.
Employee Frustration and Official Clarification
The delay has naturally caused concern and frustration among public sector workers, particularly for those who believed their records were already validated. Many have been left wondering why their salaries are being withheld despite previous confirmations.
In response to these concerns, the CAGD has clarified that the holdup is not a general system failure but is directly linked to the specific irregularities found in employees’ NIA data. This underscores the critical importance of accurate biometric data alignment between the NIA and the government payroll system.
What Affected Employees Should Do Now
If you are a public sector worker affected by this salary halt, the directive is clear:
Do not panic. This is a rectifiable administrative issue.
Liaise directly with your institution’s IPPD coordinator. They are the primary point of contact for resolving this matter.
Ensure you have provided your correct NIA details to your HR department. Follow up to make sure your information has been submitted accurately and on time.
Proactive communication with your HR unit and IPPD coordinator is the fastest way to ensure your record is corrected and your salary is restored.
A Step Towards a Cleaner Payroll
While inconvenient for many, this action by the CAGD highlights a continued commitment to fiscal responsibility and the elimination of payroll fraud. By enforcing strict compliance with NIA data, the government aims to create a more transparent and efficient payroll system in the long run.
For now, the key to unlocking salaries lies in the swift and accurate submission of data by institutional HR managers. If you are affected, ensure your voice is heard through the proper channels to expedite a resolution.
