South Sudan clamps down on ghost workers
By Ngor Arol Garang
January 30, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The semi-autonomous government of Southern Sudan said Saturday it has started clamping down on ghost workers believed to have negatively contributed to efforts geared at recovery and developmental plans in the region.
Corrupt officials in southern Sudan have been adding the names of relatives to swollen payrolls and collecting their salaries. Economic experts say most of the states spend their money on salaries and this leads to delay development plans and services.
Officials within regional government of South Sudan say ghost workers have caused the government loss of millions of dollars in four year period. A headcount in central ministries is conducted regularly at different times. The last exercise conducted in December resulting into discovery of existence of lots of ghost workers receiving money from various government payrolls.
Ms. Awut Deng Achuil, minister of labour in the Government of Southern Sudan, said another assessment will soon be conducted in secondary schools, colleges, government hospitals, dispensaries and health care centers as well as in private owned hospitals, whose staff receive payments from the government.
“It will also be carried out in educational centers such as in vocational trainings as well as Health and Social Welfare ministries,” she further said appealing to head of departments to take action against staff who fails to remove such ghost workers from the payrolls after their tenure in public service ended.
On whether there are plans to arrest defaulters; the minister said steps had already been taken to arrest individuals with evidence of such practices.
She also made mention of the measures involving identification of such ghost workers through relevant authorities in order for legal and disciplinary actions to be taken against them.
Already steps have begun in all the ministries and Training centers to identify ghost workers and their names will be submitted to relevant authorities such as law enforcement organs for prosecution or disciplinary actions, she noted.
(ST)
Justin Chicago opiny
South Sudan clamps down on ghost workers
Where were you from day one when the ghost workers were milking the money through their corrupt government Officials. We want and need change now. Those involved in act must be removed and punished and the money recovered or their property taken away.
James John
South Sudan clamps down on ghost workers
They see election coming and now they said they’re wake up……..fuck this party so call SPLA.
Angelo Ajiech Manyuat
South Sudan clamps down on ghost workers
That’s correct Ms. Awut Deng, GOSS is not serious about development or work hard to get rid of corruption that always bucking our minds. In reality, the GOSS should find those who uses ghost names to steal public funds & bring them to justice.
Mr Point
Time to punish the traitors
Corruption weakens South Sudan more than miliitas. Aid is reduced because no-one will give money to be simply taken by corrupt officials. Development won’t happen without proper use of finance.
So anyone found stealing development money must be shot for being a traitor.