The Gambian government has launched a crackdown on ghost workers following a 2024 audit that revealed the state lost an estimated 23.9 million dalasis to fictitious civil servants.
Public Service Minister Baboucarr Bouye told the National Assembly that 1,430 employees who received salaries do not exist in official records. So far, only D2 million has been recovered, and legal proceedings are being pursued against those who fail to repay.
A request has already been submitted to the Solicitor General for prosecution approval.
The government is also considering publishing the names of those implicated to increase pressure for reimbursement.
The most affected ministries include Agriculture, Health, Livestock, and Basic and Secondary Education.
The minister stressed the urgency of the issue and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to merit-based recruitment and public sector reform.
Parliamentarians have called for stronger internal controls and accountability, as public frustration mounts over corruption and administrative impunity.
