The National Service Authority (NSA) has successfully removed over 2,000 ghost names from its payroll, a step expected to save the state more than GH¢1 million. The NSA’s Director-General, Felix Gyamfi, stated that this cleanup exercise is part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and eliminate fraud within the system. He also revealed that the data of service personnel will now be shared with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for cross-verification, in order to prevent duplication and unauthorized entries.
“If you’re already on another payroll—whether as a police officer, immigration officer, or army officer—and you are doing national service just to fulfill the requirement, do not submit your allowance form this month,” Gyamfi warned. He added, “We are now working closely with the National Identification Authority and other security agencies, and anyone who attempts to defraud the system will be arrested.”
On April 30, Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced that former National Service Authority (NSA) directors implicated in the ghost names scandal will be formally charged in the first week of May 2025. The development follows a directive by President John Dramani Mahama for a full investigation into the discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll.
The anomaly was identified during a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel, according to Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu. The audit, commissioned by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, was part of efforts to reconcile and clear outstanding service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024. The issue was first brought to light in an investigative report by The Fourth Estate in November 2024.
On March 20, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) interrogated the former Executive Director of the NSA, Osei Assibey Antwi, over his alleged involvement in the payroll fraud. He was accompanied by his lawyer after being invited for questioning.
By: Sammi Wiafe
