Accra, Ghana – February 12, 2025
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to conduct an urgent probe into the operations of the National Service Authority following the discovery of approximately 81,885 suspected ghost names on its payroll.
The investigation follows a headcount of active National Service personnel initiated by the Ministry of Finance as part of efforts to clear long-standing allowance arrears.
The headcount revealed a significant discrepancy between the 180,030 personnel recorded by the previous administration and the 98,145 actual personnel verified.
As a result, the Ministry of Finance released GHS 226,019,224 to settle arrears for the confirmed National Service personnel, significantly reducing the burden on state finances.
President Mahama has also instructed the new management of the National Service Authority to implement urgent reforms to establish stronger financial controls and prevent the recurrence of fraudulent payroll practices.
Speaking on the matter, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, and Spokesperson to the President, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that those responsible for the irregularities would be held accountable.
The investigation marks a significant step in Ghana’s fight against payroll fraud, a long-standing issue affecting public sector wage bills.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/
