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Mercy360 Blog of Saturday, 15 February 2025
Source: Mercy Mensah
A recent study uncovered significant fraud within Ghana’s National Service Scheme (NSS), demonstrating that people in their 80s and 90s illegally enlisted as national service troops. Despite being decades older than average service personnel, 93-year-old Nimatu Salifu, 91-year-old Ruth Abdulai, and 82-year-old Mahamadu Ali were incorrectly identified as University for Development Studies (UDS) graduates and assigned to schools for the 2022/2023 service year.
The scheme’s biometric verification technology, which was advertised as a fraud deterrent, was easily overcome. Fake identification documents, such as altered school IDs and Fire Service cards, were provided to avoid scrutiny. Surprisingly, one student ID was used to register two separate people, while 72-year-old Kwame Donkor was enrolled using the photo of a Kenyan human resources manager. These differences indicate fundamental weaknesses in the NSS’s registration procedure.
The disclosures have aroused public concern, with opponents emphasizing how such fraud depletes resources intended for legitimate youth services. The NSS, which is created for graduates under 40, has been accused of irresponsibility for failing to discover glaring age mismatches and forged credentials.
This incident exposes flaws in Ghana’s national service architecture, raising critical concerns about monitoring and accountability. Authorities have promised investigations, but calls are growing for stricter verification standards, audits of existing registrations, and harsh action against abusers. To restore faith in the NSS, visible measures must be implemented to prevent future system misuse.
https://x.com/fourthestategh/status/1890396700272927082
