Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, Atty. Cornelia Kruah, has categorically denied allegations that “ghost workers” appear on the ministry’s supplementary payroll. She emphasized that all individuals listed are legitimate employees of the ministry.
Documents reviewed by this publication support Kruah’s assertion, showing no indication of phantom employees, until otherwise proven differently. These records, which include staff names and identification numbers under the supplementary payroll, contradict recent claims suggesting otherwise.
The General Auditing Commission (GAC) is currently conducting a headcount verification exercise at the Ministry of State. However, discrepancies have emerged between the ministry’s statements and the audit findings.
An attendance roster containing verified ID numbers confirms that the individuals named in the audit were present during the verification process. “Those individuals are not ghosts,” Kruah stated. “They are people who actually work at the Ministry of State.”
The GAC audit report, signed by Auditor General P. Garswa Jackson, noted that the ministry failed to present 74 newly hired supplementary staff for physical verification. The report, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2024, claimed this failure contravened Regulation T (5)(1) of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act.
Speaking on OK FM’s afternoon show, Kruah responded to the allegations, clarifying that GAC had requested employee files rather than physical presence. “Whatever the case, there is an avenue for physical verification to be conducted,” she said, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to full cooperation.
Kruah further explained that the ministry itself had initiated the audit to promote transparency and accountability. “We requested this audit because we want the Ministry of State to operate under the same standards as all other government ministries,” she remarked.
A letter dated May 17, 2024, signed by Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Sylvester Grigsby, revealed that the ministry inherited a supplementary payroll comprising 728 individuals. Following consultations with the Civil Service Agency (CSA), the ministry decided to discontinue this payroll.
From January to March 2024, payments to individuals on that payroll were managed jointly by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Ministry of State.
“However, certain irregularities have since been identified regarding that supplementary payroll,” the letter stated. “We have therefore prioritized a GAC audit of the payroll.”
Contrary to reports suggesting the supplementary payroll includes over 300 workers, Kruah clarified that the actual number is slightly above 100. She acknowledged that the system had historically been vulnerable to exploitation.
“Supplementary payrolls can be abused, which is why we are implementing robust mechanisms to regulate it,” she said.
Kruah highlighted that these challenges are not recent. “The issues with the supplementary payroll did not start last year or even six years ago—it has been a longstanding problem,” she explained. “The previous administration saw the number surge to over 700.”
To prevent future misuse, the ministry has transferred payroll vetting responsibilities to the CSA. “The CSA will now conduct all vetting; the Ministry of State will no longer be involved,” Kruah confirmed.
She also dismissed allegations that the payroll was manipulated to remove former employees and replace them with political allies. “Discontinuing the payroll was purely an administrative decision, not politically motivated,” she asserted.
Kruah revealed that the Ministry of State previously operated without formal policies due to its direct link to the presidency. “Before my tenure, there were no formal policies because it is the Office of the President. However, with President Joseph Boakai’s support, we have now implemented new policies,” she noted.
In a significant development, Kruah announced that, for the first time, the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) now maintains a permanent representative at the Ministry of State. “This is a milestone in our accountability efforts,” she said.
Addressing concerns over funds allegedly paid to ghost employees, Kruah clarified that the Ministry of State has not accessed these funds. “The cheque is held by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The Ministry of State has not spent any of this money,” she emphasized.
