Accountant General directed to open 'ghost name' account

The Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, has entreated Heads of Departments at MDAs to assist the Controller and Accountant General's Department in its efforts to eliminate ghost names from the government’s pay roll system. 

He said because the Heads of Institutions have direct responsibility over their staff they are duty-bound to notify the Controller whenever a staff member is no longer in service or when multiple payments are made to an individual.  

He said his Ministry has directed the Controller and Accountant General to open a special account to enable banks which receive ghosts’ salaries to pay back the money to government. 

Mr Terkper was speaking at a Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. 

The Controller and Accountant General, Grace Adzroe who also appeared before the Committee says ghost names come in various forms. 

She asked banks to help the Controller and Accountant General in retrieving amounts paid illegally.

GBC