]The designated centres for the registration of public sector workers without the Ghana Card have been deserted across the country.

As a measure to eradicate non-existent workers from the public sector payroll, the Controller and Accountant General has mandated all public sector employees to register for the Ghana card.

In order to facilitate this process, the National Identification Authority has allocated a specific 10-day timeframe exclusively for the registration of public sector personnel. Nevertheless, despite the substantial count of public sector employees lacking a Ghana card, the uptake of the mandatory and cost-free biometric registration for those without the card has been notably minimal, even after two days.

In alignment with the government's objective to eliminate fictitious names from its payroll, the National Identification Authority (NIA) initiated compulsory registration for the Ghana Card among all public sector employees who do not possess the card. This initiative commenced on Monday, August 28, 2023. The limited registration process, which encompasses the enrollment of first-time applicants aged 15 and above, is anticipated to span a period of 10 days.

This unique initiative stems from a biometric audit carried out in the past year by the Controller and Accountant General Department, in conjunction with the NIA. The audit findings highlighted that out of the 601,000 public sector employees assessed through their Ghanacard registrations, approximately 148,060 individuals had data discrepancies with the NIA's records.

This revelation raised significant concerns regarding potential instances of fraudulent ghost names or duplicate identities within the government payroll.

Officials believe many are not showing up because they are afraid of being exposed over ghost names and double identities, due to stringent measures put in place by the Controller and Accountant General Department for registration of public sector workers.

"It is quite obvious that if you are involved in ghost name scam or you have double identity, you cannot come here because you will be exposed. It is a reason they are deserting the centres," a registration supervisor in Accra, who confirmed the low patronage said.

The registration of public sector workers forms part of an upcoming registration of first-time applicants from age 15 years and above, made possible by the supply of some 484,000 new blank cards to the NIA to enable it to fulfil its mandate.

Public sector workers are required to present a copy of their July payslips, alongside other mandatory documents, such as a birth certificate, a valid Ghanaian passport, or a certificate of citizenship, to get registered and be issued with a Ghanacard.

NIA officials and the CAGD have explained that the payslip is essential because the name on the payslip is exactly what will be used for the Ghana Card; to ensure uniformity and easy verification, and also expose ghost names and double identity on the payroll.

Public sector workers who fail to register for their Ghanacard, after this window, risk forfeiting their monthly salaries as the Ghana Card registration is a key requirement, following the revelation that ghost names on government payroll are costing the government millions of Ghana Cedis every month.