1.   But the ghost workers serve an important purpose.

2.   In all likelihood, ghost workers will be hired.

3.   The government would be looking into the matter carefully to avoid paying ghost workers, Jarteh said.

4.   Banda told parliament last week that the government had saved two million dollars in salaries since September when the ghost workers were removed from the government payroll.

5.   But fears have grown recently that there are thousands of ghost workers whose salaries are being drawn by senior state employees.

6.   Fears are that there could be thousands of ghost workers whose wages are being enjoyed by some senior government officials.

7.   The Malawi government says it has exorcised thousands of ghost workers from its payroll and saved two million dollars in salaries since September.

8.   The minister, who did not say how long the ghost workers had been paid nor the sums involved, said those behind the scam would be punished.