The National Service Authority (NSA) has successfully purged over 2,000 ghost names from its payroll system, a major step expected to save the Ghanaian government more than GH¢1 million.
Director-General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, confirmed the development, noting that the move forms part of broader efforts to promote transparency and tackle payroll fraud.
“This cleanup operation is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and eliminate fraud within the system,” Gyamfi stated.
To prevent future cases of duplication and unauthorized entries, the NSA has partnered with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for cross-verification of service personnel data.
“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,” Gyamfi warned.
“We are now working closely with the NIB and other security agencies, and anyone who attempts to defraud the system will be arrested,” he cautioned, as quoted by CitiNewsroom.com.
The clean-up comes in the wake of revelations about 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll—an issue that caught national attention following an investigative report by The Fourth Estate in November 2024.
In response, President John Dramani Mahama ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has since confirmed that former NSA officials implicated in the scandal will face charges in the first week of May 2025.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu revealed that the ghost name anomaly was discovered during a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson also played a role in addressing the situation, having commissioned the audit to reconcile and settle unpaid service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.
Meanwhile, former NSA Executive Director Osei Assibey Antwi was questioned by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) on March 20 regarding his alleged involvement in the payroll fraud. He appeared before investigators with legal representation.
Further developments are expected as authorities intensify their crackdown on public sector payroll irregularities.
