The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has warned government workers to ensure that their Ghana Card details are correctly captured on the payroll system through their respective Human Resource Departments or risk having their salaries suspended effective September 15.

The Government payroll authority issued this in a formal statement dated August 24 and widely reported on Tuesday, August 27, citing previous warnings over the past two years regarding the need for government workers to ensure that their Ghana Card details are correctly captured on the payroll system.

“Employees who do not have valid NIA details on the payroll system will have their salaries suspended with effect from 15th September, 2026. The implementation of this measure is essential to facilitate the upcoming nationwide employees' re-verification exercise”, parts of the statement read.

CAGD explained that the move had become necessary, citing several discrepancies and mismatches in Ghana Card details and employee records.

“Reference is made to our earlier Letters Nos. DCAG/PM/0525/025 and CAGD/PPD/0624/0277 dated 21 May 2025 and 20th June, 2024, respectively, in which employees of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) whose Ghana Card details are not captured on the payroll system were directed to provide their card information to the Department.

“Following the rollout of the upgraded Employee Payslip (E-Payslip) system by the Department, critical data discrepancies have been identified, preventing some employees from accessing their payslips.

"These discrepancies stem from National Identification Authority (NIA) numbers captured on the payroll system not matching employees' NIA records. Furthermore, some employees do not have their NIA numbers captured in the payroll system at all”.

Consequently, the payroll managers have directed Human Resource Departments of Institutions to correct the NIA numbers of all affected staff on the payroll system.

How corrections should be done

CAGD directed that “For each correction, submit the employee's application for correction, along with a covering letter from the Head of Institution authorising the correction/insertion of the NIA number and submit the same to CAGD for validation”.

The CAGD has clarified that government employees will no longer be required to submit physical copies of their Ghana Cards for verification, following the passage of L.I. 2523.

“In accordance with Regulation 9 of the National Identity Register (Amended) Regulations 2026 (L.I. 2523), physical copies of NIA cards are no longer required for submission and inspection. Accordingly, all employees must ensure that their NIA numbers and related identity details are correctly captured in the payroll system through their respective Heads of Human Resources”, parts of the statement read.

Human Resource officers have also been directed to review their institutions’ corporate emails for lists of employees whose payroll records have been flagged for missing NIA details.

“Human Resource officers should check their Institution's corporate emails for the list of employees flagged with "No NIA" details and act accordingly”, he added.