The Auditor-General has uncovered questionable payments amounting to GH¢8.26 million made to former National Service Authority (NSA) Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi, through the National Service Programme’s payroll system between 2023 and 2024.
According to the audit report, Mr. Assibey was irregularly registered as a volunteer under the service number NVPKUMAWUFARMS and listed as deployed to Kumawu Farms, despite officially working at the NSA headquarters in Accra.
He reportedly received GH¢516,000 each month over a 16-month period through an EZWICH card linked to the false registration — totaling GH¢8,256,000. Auditors found no documentation at Kumawu Farms to show he performed any voluntary service or managed funds on behalf of others.
“There is no evidence indicating that Mr. Assibey Antwi Osei received or distributed the funds on behalf of volunteers,” the report stated.
The monthly payments, auditors noted, equaled the combined allowances of about 721 service personnel, each earning GH¢715.57. The report described the findings as a major violation of public financial accountability standards.
Auditors have recommended the full recovery of the GH¢8.26 million and further investigation to determine whether the payments were authorized or part of a larger payroll manipulation scheme.
The review also uncovered additional irregularities, including ghost names, duplicate EZWICH accounts, and the unauthorized enrolment of over 4,500 individuals, costing nearly GH¢900,000, revealing deep flaws in the NSA’s internal control systems.
