The Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD) in Ghana has issued a strong warning against unauthorized payroll training being offered by private institutions. The CAGD emphasizes that it is the sole authority mandated by law to handle all matters concerning compensation management in the public sector.
The notice, dated June 11, 2025, and addressed to all Regional Directors of CAGD, Heads of Covered Entities, Heads of Human Resource Management, and Personnel Processing Sections of Covered Entities, specifically references a letter from the Institute of Public Management and Administration (IPMA) regarding a two-day training on 2025 compensation management.
CAGD's Mandate and Concerns
The CAGD highlights its role under Section 8 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 931), which designates it as the Chief Accounting Officer and Advisor to the Government of Ghana on all accountancy-related matters. This mandate includes specifying accounting standards, policies, and classification systems for Covered Entities to ensure proper accounting in the public sector.
The department asserts that compensation management is exclusively within its purview, and it has already trained, and continues to train, relevant staff on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Database (IPPD2) System. The CAGD states that it possesses experienced and well-equipped staff capable of handling all necessary training needs.
The CAGD expresses concern that training conducted by private institutions outside its oversight could negatively impact the National Payroll Administrative System's practices, policies, and procedures. They further explain that these private institutions may not be privy to the administrative instructions, directives, circulars, and communiques issued by CAGD, leading to training instructions that may contradict official policies.
Warning Against Unauthorized Training
To ensure strict adherence and compliance with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016, and other relevant regulations and instructions, the CAGD urges all staff of Covered Entities to avoid unauthorized training programs organized by private institutions.
Regional Directors and Heads of Covered Entities are specifically instructed to immediately cease participating in or promoting such training programs. Furthermore, Heads of Covered Entities are directed to channel all capacity-building needs related to salary matters through their Regional Directors to the CAGD Head Office for consideration. Regional Directors are also responsible for disseminating this information to the respective Heads of Covered Entities in their regions.
The Unauthorized Training in Question
The referenced training by the Institute of Public Management and Administration (IPMA) was an "Invitation to a Two-Day Training on 2025 Compensation (Salaries & Allowances) Management, Audit, and the Current Human Resource Management Policies in the Public Sector". The workshop aimed to enhance governance, accountability, and effective human resource management.
The IPMA's workshop objectives included:
Preparing participants for effective engagement with the Auditor General's payroll audits.
Training on salaries administration, including budgeting, structure, nominal roll generation, and corrections.
Exploring the role and guidelines of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in payroll monitoring.
Understanding the Public Services Commission's policies on Human Resources Management.
The IPMA's training was scheduled for May 29-30, 2025, at the Sunyani Technical University Auditorium, with a registration fee of GHS 750.00 per participant. Target participants included Directors, Finance Officers, Medical Superintendents, Headmasters, Human Resource Managers, Payroll Officers, Internal Auditors, Accountants, Administrators, and Validators.
