Gifty Oware-Mensah and accomplices, embezzled over GH¢500 million from the public purse
Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine has disclosed a massive corruption scandal within the National Service Scheme (NSS), revealing that a criminal network embedded in the National Service Authority (NSA) led to the loss of over GH¢548 million through the use of ghost names on the payroll.
At a press briefing on June 13, 2025, Dr Ayine stated that the criminal enterprise involved directors, staff, and service providers of the NSS. According to him, the cartel, allegedly led by former Deputy Director Gifty Oware-Mensah and several accomplices—embezzled over GH¢500 million from the public purse.
Charges are set to be filed against 12 suspects, including Gifty Oware-Mensah, who is believed to have masterminded the operation. The investigation, which has been ongoing for several months, uncovered a web of fraudulent activities that exploited funds meant for national service personnel.
Dr Ayine revealed that Gifty allegedly used NSS allowances as collateral to secure a GH¢30 million loan from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB). The accused are expected to face serious charges, including fraud and money laundering.
He further alleged that Oware-Mensah misappropriated public funds by creating and using a total of 9,934 ghost names on the NSS payroll.
This scandal raises serious concerns about the integrity of the NSS and highlights the urgent need for reforms within public institutions to prevent such egregious theft of state resources.
Gifty Oware-Mensah had previously been detained by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) in March, after returning from a trip abroad, in connection with the scandal.
Dr Ayine provided a breakdown of the alleged theft by year, noting that GH¢350,926,977.12 was lost during the 2022/2023 service year alone.
In total, it is estimated that GH¢548,333,542.65 was lost due to the criminal activities of NSS executives, directors, staff, and associated service providers.
“This criminal enterprise, which resulted in this colossal financial loss, involved the creation of ghost names on the NSA payroll system by some directors and staff, which was subsequently exploited to siphon state funds for personal gain,” Dr. Ayine explained.
As the nation awaits further developments, citizens are demanding transparency, accountability, and swift justice to restore public trust in government institutions.
NAD/KA
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