Ghana Government Accelerates Institutional Reforms: Payroll Deadlines, Digital Traffic Enforcement, and Local Oversight Tightened

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has issued a final warning to government employees, stating that those without valid National Identification Authority (NIA) details in the payroll system face salary suspension starting September 15, 2026. This directive follows the implementation of an upgraded Employee Payslip (E-Payslip) system, which identified significant data discrepancies. Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been tasked with ensuring all staff NIA numbers are accurately recorded to facilitate an upcoming nationwide employee re-verification exercise and prevent widespread payroll disruptions.

In a parallel effort to modernize public enforcement, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) are deploying advanced technology to enhance compliance. The DVLA has already seized over 130 vehicles identified as cloned or illegally imported using new On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) scanners. Meanwhile, NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba announced the rollout of 'Traffictech,' a camera-based monitoring system designed to automate the apprehension of traffic offenders. The NRSA also plans to introduce a mandatory towing system by 2027 to remove broken-down vehicles, which remain a primary cause of road fatalities.

At the local government level, the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has inaugurated new Audit Committees for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the Greater Accra Region. These committees are mandated to strengthen internal controls and ensure the transparent management of the substantial resources allocated to local assemblies. Deputy Minister Rita Naa Odoley Sowah and IAA Deputy Director-General Bismark Aborbi-Ayitey emphasized that committee members must act independently and utilize the Public Financial Management Act to prevent financial leakages and improve development outcomes.

While the government focuses on administrative and digital reforms, labor leaders are calling for a shift in economic policy to protect worker welfare. Dr. Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), recently attributed Ghana’s stagnant wage levels to colonial-era labor policies and urged the state to regulate rising costs in housing and travel. Addressing these concerns, the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment is launching the National Workplace Compliance and Safety Management System (NWCSMS), a digital platform aimed at improving workplace inspections and fostering safer environments through tripartite collaboration.