The National Service Authority (NSA) has successfully purged more than 2,000 ghost names from its payroll, a move that is expected to save the government over GH¢1 million.
This development is part of ongoing efforts to improve transparency and root out fraud within the national service scheme.
Felix Gyamfi, Director-General of the NSA, explained that the authority has strengthened its data management processes.
Service personnel records will now be cross-verified with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to prevent duplication and unauthorized entries.
Gyamfi cautioned, “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. We are now working closely with the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and other security agencies, and anyone who attempts to defraud the system will be arrested.”
The cleanup follows a high-profile investigation ordered by President John Dramani Mahama after the discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll. This finding came from a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel, as confirmed by Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
An audit commissioned by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson sought to reconcile outstanding service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.
The ghost names scandal was first exposed in November 2024 by an investigative report from The Fourth Estate.
In a related development, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced on April 30 that former NSA directors implicated in the scandal would be formally charged in early May 2025.
Notably, the former Executive Director of the NSA, Osei Assibey Antwi, was interrogated by the National Investigations Bureau on March 20 over alleged involvement in the fraud.
The National Service Authority continues to implement measures to safeguard public resources and ensure integrity in the management of the national service scheme.
