Mali Uncovers 36,000 Ghost Workers in Sweeping Public Sector Audit

West African CFA franc (image source)

Mali’s fragile public finances have been rocked by revelations of over 36,000 ghost workers drawing salaries from state coffers. The findings, released after a government-wide audit, underscore deep-rooted corruption within the civil service and highlight the urgency of governance reforms.

The audit, conducted with biometric verification and cross-ministry data checks, revealed that payrolls included deceased individuals, terminated employees, and entirely fictitious identities. Audit lead Fatoumata Diarra explained that the fraud typically required collusion: “At least three officials had to collaborate to insert a ghost employee into the system.”

The scandal is estimated to cost Mali more than $120 million annually, funds that could have been used to bolster public health, education, and security. In the health ministry alone, 230 unverifiable employees had their salaries immediately frozen. “This is a hemorrhage of public funds,” said economist Boubacar Traoré, who warned that service delivery and public trust were collapsing in tandem.

Civil society groups are demanding not only audits but also criminal prosecutions. Activist Aminata Koné argued: “We need transparency, not just technology. Biometric systems can help, but without accountability, ghost workers will reappear.”

The government has pledged quarterly audits, biometric attendance, and tighter payroll oversight. International donors, including the World Bank, have urged Mali to fast-track reforms as a condition for future aid.

If implemented, Mali could turn the scandal into an opportunity to strengthen state institutions. But if left unchecked, the ghost worker problem risks becoming yet another layer of dysfunction in a country already strained by conflict and economic fragility.