Credit: Kekeli K. Blamey
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has called on leaders of Ghana’s tertiary education unions to support critical public payroll reforms, as part of efforts to clean up ghost names and restore transparency in public sector compensation.
Meeting on Tuesday, June 10, with executives of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), and the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG), Dr. Forson emphasized the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and fair compensation.
The unions had sought the meeting to discuss the status of their Book and Research Allowance. In response, Dr. Forson assured them that the allowance has been fully accounted for in the 2025 national budget and that processes are underway to ensure its timely release.
However, the Finance Minister used the occasion to spotlight ongoing payroll reforms, revealing that an audit by the Auditor-General has identified a significant number of ghost names on the government payroll. He described the cleanup as a national imperative, stressing that eliminating irregularities would create fiscal space to better support legitimate public servants, including educators.
“This is not just a financial exercise—it’s about fairness, integrity, and sustainability in public sector compensation,” Dr. Forson stated, urging union leaders to back the reforms.
He also welcomed a proposal from the unions to establish a dedicated Labour Relations Desk at the Ministry of Finance. According to him, this would enhance dialogue and foster better coordination between the ministry and labour stakeholders.
The meeting marks a shift toward deeper collaboration between the government and tertiary unions as Ghana works to strengthen its public financial management systems.
