Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Deputy Local Government and Rural Development Minister, has expressed the determination of the Government to go to all lengths to protect public funds.

He said it was strengthening measures and structures to promote transparency and check corrupt practices in “our financial activities”.

He expressed concern over how the nation had over the years suffered unduly from paying monies to “ghosts” and said that could not be allowed to continue.

Nii Lante Vanderpuije was addressing the closing session of a two-day workshop on the “Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) migration to e-payment system,” at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.

The project is being jointly implemented by the Ministry and the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry, to improve administration of social protection interventions, including the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme.

Under the e-payment system, beneficiaries of these interventions would be registered biometrically and issued with e-Zwich electronic cards via which remunerations are paid.

The new system has been successfully piloted in the Northern Region and is expected to be rolled out nationwide by the close of this year.

Nii Lante Vanderpuije asked the people to be abreast of the e-payment system to enhance its implementation.

Mr Robert Austin, National Co-ordinator of GSOP, said when fully implemented, it would bring about efficiency and curb underhand dealings in funds disbursement.