Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has strongly linked the National Service Scheme (NSS) payroll fraud scandal to the defeat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
“This scandal justifies why Ghanaians decided to kick out the NPP,” Kpebu asserted during a panel discussion on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, June 14.
“The records of Akufo-Addo in the fight against corruption can never be compared to those of President Mahama.
“There is a lot of money involved in this case. My opinion is that the AG should rather concentrate on recouping the stolen money instead of prison time.”
Kpebu’s comments come on the back of damning revelations made by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who described the rot within the NSS as nothing short of a “nationwide criminal enterprise.”
In a detailed media briefing on Friday, Dr. Ayine disclosed that a shocking 81,885 ghost names were discovered on the NSS payroll.
These fake identities were systematically created to siphon public funds intended for national service personnel.
“This wasn’t a one-off. It was institutionalised fraud,” Dr. Ayine revealed, noting that the scheme may have cost Ghana over GH¢50 million per month at its peak.
The scandal implicates several high-ranking officials including senior district directors, payroll officers, and even the NSS Chief Executive Officer.
According to the Attorney General, the culprits generated fake index numbers and ID cards to make the ghost names appear legitimate.
The ORAL (Office of the Special Prosecutor and Related Agencies Link) team, which spearheaded the investigation, says prosecutions are imminent.
