The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed that a biometric audit of the payroll of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has saved the country GHC356 million which otherwise would have been paid to individuals who have not rendered service to the nation ‘ ghost workers’.
Presenting his vision to Ghanaians at a lecture at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA), the Vice President attributed this to the integration of the SSNIT, NHIS, GRA, Passport, CAGD payroll, DVLA, SIM card, Bank account etc to the Ghanacard.
“Furthermore, with oversight from my office, the SSNIT, NHIS, GRA, Passport, CAGD payroll, DVLA, SIM card, Bank account etc. have been linked to the NIA database. Today your SSNIT number is your Ghanacard number, your NHIS number is your Ghanacard number, your TIN is your Ghanacard number etc. The integration of the databases is allowing us to successfully weed out ghost workers on payroll,” Dr Bawumia explained.
He said the audit found 44, 707 ghost workers and potential ghost workers on the payroll of the NSS between 2022 and 2024.
The Vice President further revealed that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) also suspended payment of GHC480 million to 29,000 ghost pensioners using the Ghanacard.
He said as a result of digitalisation the government has solved the longstanding problem of ghost workers on government payroll.
Source: universalnewsgh.com