More than 2,000 ghost names have been successfully removed from the National Service Authority’s (NSA) payroll, a move anticipated to save the state over GH¢1 million.
Felix Gyamfi, Director-General of the NSA, stated that the cleanup operation is part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and eliminate fraud within the system.
According to him, to prevent duplication and unauthorized entries, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department will now have access to service personnel data for cross-verification.
“If you’re already on another payroll — whether as a police officer, immigration officer, or army officer — and you’re doing national service just to meet the requirement, do not submit your allowance form this month,” Gyamfi warned. “We are now working closely with the NIB and other security agencies, and anyone who attempts to defraud the system will be arrested,” he said, as quoted by CitiNewsroom.com.
Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced on April 30 that former National Service Authority (NSA) directors implicated in the ghost names scandal will be formally charged in the first week of May 2025.
This development follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, who ordered a comprehensive investigation into the 81,885 potential ghost names discovered on the NSA payroll.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that the anomaly was uncovered during a national headcount of active national service members.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson commissioned the audit as part of efforts to reconcile and settle outstanding service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024. The issue first came to public attention through an investigative report by The Fourth Estate in November 2024.
Osei Assibey Antwi, former Executive Director of the NSA, was questioned by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) on March 20 over his suspected involvement in the payroll fraud. He appeared for questioning accompanied by his lawyers.
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