CAGD Issues Fresh Warning: Government Workers Without Valid Ghana Card Details Risk Salary Suspension from 15 September 2026

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has issued a new circular directing all employees on the Government of Ghana payroll to ensure their National Identification Authority (NIA) / Ghana Card numbers are correctly captured and validated on the system. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of salaries with effect from 15th September 2026.

Circular No. 305/26, dated 24th August 2026 and signed by Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Agyei, builds on earlier directives and is aimed at resolving persistent data mismatches while preparing the ground for a nationwide employees’ re-verification exercise.

Background and Why This Matters

For several years, the CAGD has been integrating the Ghana Card (NIA) database with the government payroll system to improve accuracy, eliminate ghost names, and strengthen financial controls. An upgraded electronic payslip (e-Payslip) platform rolled out earlier in 2026 exposed critical discrepancies: some NIA numbers on the payroll did not match official NIA records, while other employees had no NIA details captured at all. These mismatches prevented some workers from accessing their payslips online.

Earlier circulars (including those referenced from May 2025 and June 2024) had already instructed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to update staff details. A previous deadline of 15 March 2026 had been set in February 2026 notices. The latest circular renews and tightens enforcement ahead of the broader re-verification exercise.

What HR Departments Must Do

Human Resource Departments of all institutions are required to take the following immediate steps:

1. Correct NIA numbers of all affected staff on the payroll system.
2. For each correction or insertion, submit the employee’s application together with a covering letter from the Head of Institution authorising the change to the CAGD for validation.
3. Ensure all NIA numbers and related identity details are accurately captured through the respective Heads of Human Resources. Under the National Identity Register (Amended) Regulations 2026 (L.I. 2523), physical copies of NIA cards are no longer required for submission and inspection in this process.

HR officers have been advised to check their institutions’ corporate email accounts for the list of employees currently flagged with “No NIA” details and act promptly.

Salary Suspension Deadline

The circular is explicit:
“Employees who do not have valid NIA details on the payroll system will have their salaries suspended with effect from 15th September, 2026.”

This measure is described as essential to facilitate the upcoming nationwide employees’ re-verification exercise. The Department is counting on the usual cooperation of all institutions to ensure smooth compliance.
This the link: https://Gogepayservices.com

Broader Context of Payroll Reforms

This directive forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise Ghana’s public payroll. Key related developments include:

• The full linkage of the NIA biometric database with the CAGD mechanised payroll system (initially launched in early 2024).
• The requirement for employees to use their Ghana Card numbers to access the e-Payslip portal (gogepayservices.com).
• Continued focus on eliminating unearned salaries and ghost names through better data integrity and audit trails.
• Alignment with newer identity regulations that prioritise biometric verification over physical card inspection in many official processes.

Public sector workers across major entities  including the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Judicial Service, security agencies, and others  are affected.

What Employees Should Do Now

Affected workers should:

• Contact their institutional Human Resource department immediately to confirm whether their NIA/Ghana Card details are correctly recorded.
• Provide any required application or supporting information promptly so HR can process corrections and forward them to CAGD.
• Ensure they possess a valid Ghana Card. Those without one should visit an NIA office to register or update their records.

The CAGD has emphasised that the process is designed to protect both the integrity of the payroll and the ability of genuine employees to receive their salaries without disruption.

As the 15 September 2026 deadline approaches, institutions and individual employees are urged to treat the update as a priority. Prompt action will prevent salary interruptions and support the government’s broader goal of a cleaner, more accurate public payroll system.