Ghana Card Fails to Exorcise ‘Ghost Names’ in Public Service, IMANI Africa Study Reveals

In a surprising turn of events, Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has refuted claims made by some supporters of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, including Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, regarding the efficacy of Ghana’s National Identification Card, the Ghana Card, in tackling the issue of ‘ghost names’ in the country’s public service.

Contrary to the assertions that the Ghana Card has successfully purged ghost workers from the government payroll, Simons revealed that a recent study conducted by IMANI Africa paints a different picture. In a series of posts shared on Sunday, November 19, 2023, Simons argued that the introduction of the Ghana Card has not significantly addressed the problem, as some individuals labeled as ‘ghosts’ in the public service are reported to possess valid Ghana Cards.

“IMANI Africa dug into this. Ghana Card can’t do ‘foko’ [nothing], b’cos insiders enroll the ‘ghosts,’ some of whom also have Ghana Cards,” he stated.

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Simons criticized the government for misdiagnosing the issue, emphasizing that the assumption that ‘ghosts’ did not exist led to the reliance on biometrics, exemplified by the introduction of eZwich in 2009. Even after a decade, this solution failed to yield the expected results. According to Simons, the Ghana Card is merely the latest procurement-driven attempt to address the persistent problem of ‘ghost names.’

Furthermore, Simons accused those promoting the Ghana Card of having ulterior motives, suggesting that the primary goal of the card is financial gain rather than the resolution of the ‘ghost names’ issue. He argued that the real solution lies in revamping personnel appraisal systems and tightening human resources procedures within government departments.

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“The way to solve ghost names is to revamp personnel appraisal systems & tighten HR within govt depts. No proper system can be tricked to pay folks 4 no work,” Simons asserted.

The post also included screenshots of reports where Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had previously praised the effectiveness of the Ghana Card, claiming that it had successfully removed tens of thousands of ‘ghost names’ from the public service. The controversy surrounding the Ghana Card continues, as questions arise about its actual impact on addressing the longstanding issue of ‘ghost workers’ in Ghana’s public sector.

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