Inquiry Letter: Afghan National Police (ANP) Ghost Workers Salaries and LOTFA Financial Management
Abstract
I am writing to express my concern that the U.S. may be unwittingly helping to pay the salaries of non-existent members of the Afghan National Police (ANP). The possibility of "ghost workers" on the ANP payroll came up several times in the course of my most recent visit to Afghanistan and in recent discussions with European Union (EU) representatives. I have been encouraged by my recent conversations with Generals Wendel and Greene who told me that they are taking actions to address these concerns. These actions specifically include CSTC-As decision to strengthen their own capabilities to perform independent assessments and scrutinize Afghan financial processes. CSTCAs use of "Commitment Letters" may help bolster accountability by stipulating how Ministries allocate their funds and requiring the use of automated financial and personnel systems; but we must do more to understand how U.S. funds are flowing through the Afghan banking system, particularly those used to pay ANP salaries. The issue of "ghost workers" is not a new issue for SIGAR. In 2011, a SIGAR audit report raised questions about the United Nations Development Programs (UNDP) management of the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA), which is used to pay ANP salaries. SIGAR auditors found that neither the Afghan Ministry of Interior nor the UNDP could verify payroll data. SIGAR concluded that there was "limited assurance that only ANP personnel who worked received pay."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1140289
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction