CAGD rejects viral claim of GH¢427m ‘unearned salaries,’ says payroll system cannot pay beyond approved limits

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has firmly rejected claims circulating on social media that a senior civil servant at Ghana’s Defence Ministry received unearned salaries amounting to GH¢427 million over a 29-month period.

The allegation, attributed to a publication by The Fourth Estate and dated April 20, 2026, suggested that the supposed payments averaged more than GH¢14 million per month. It further claimed that the figures were captured in a recent Auditor-General’s report covering the period from January 2023 to June 2025.

In an official response, the CAGD described the report as misleading and inaccurate, strongly defending the credibility and robustness of the government’s payroll management system. The Department stressed that the current payroll framework is governed by strict controls and automated processes designed to prevent irregular or excessive payments.

“The Government payroll system runs on controls and automations which allow only approved pay structures by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to be processed for employees eligible under their conditions of service,” the statement explained.

According to the CAGD, salary payments undergo multiple layers of validation before they are approved. It noted that all payments are subject to online verification by the heads of various covered entities, ensuring that only legitimate employees receive salaries consistent with their roles and approved compensation structures.

“Monthly salaries are paid to eligible employees on the Government of Ghana payroll after online validation of these payments by the Heads of the various Covered Entities,” the Department stated.

Beyond these approvals, the CAGD highlighted additional internal quality assurance measures that further scrutinise payroll data. These checks include validating salary ranges, monitoring monthly variations, ensuring compliance with conditions of service, and confirming the total amounts processed for payment through the banking system.

“These monthly payments are further subjected to internal quality processes to validate each salary payment in terms of acceptable ranges, with particular focus on monthly variances, validation of conditions of service, above-range analysis, and validation of total payments to the bank, among others,” the statement added.

Based on these safeguards, the Department maintained that it is not feasible for any individual within the public service to receive salary payments far beyond what is legally permitted.

“It is therefore impossible under the current payroll arrangement to pay a government employee salary in excess of what is legally due that employee,” the CAGD asserted.

The Department also cautioned media outlets and the public against the unverified spread of sensitive financial claims, urging stakeholders to seek clarification before publication. It reiterated its commitment to transparency and openness, noting that it remains available to address concerns and verify information when necessary.

“The CAGD maintains an open-door policy, and we therefore expect that any such claims should be verified before publication,” it stated.

This clarification comes at a time of heightened public scrutiny over payroll management and government expenditure, particularly following recent audit revelations that have raised concerns about accountability and financial oversight within Ghana’s public sector.