The Ghana Card is proof of identity, citizenship, and place of abode and is issued by NIA to citizens, permanent residents in other countries, and non-resident citizens alike. The current version adds biometric features and uses the ID1 format.
The Institute of Liberty and Policy Innovation’s Government Waste Report 2022 draws attention to Ghana’s alarming financial loss problem. According to the research, the existence of phantom identities on the government payroll costs the nation an estimated GH¢100 million annually.
A startling 2,913 ghost names were found on the Ghana Education Service payroll alone in 2015 during a staff audit. In addition to highlighting the fact that payroll fraud swindles almost GH¢100 million a year, the report stresses how persistent this issue is.
The research identifies a trend, noting that since 2011, an employee audit has been carried out countrywide to try to resolve issues that arise whenever the government requests a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or goes through restructuring.
This information highlights how urgent it is to combat payroll fraud and put in place strong safeguards to maintain financial integrity throughout government operations.
Employees without a Ghana Card will not be paid starting in February 2024.
