Atik Mohammed, Policy Analyst of the People’s National Convention, has called on President John Mahama to sanction the BNI personnel charged with oversight responsibility at the National Service Secretariat (NSS).
Speaking on Peace FM’s flagship programme Kokrokoo, Atik Mohammed expressed disappointment in the personnel of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) mandated with keeping an eye on activities at the NSS.
To him, the personnel failed to execute their official duties and could not outsmart the NSS officials who are under interrogation for embezzling funds.
Officials of the BNI disclosed a Ghc 7.9 million deep-rooted canker at the NSS.
The amount, according to Thursday’s edition of the Daily Graphic, represents the allowance paid to 22, 612 non-existent service persons in more than 100 districts across the country, in July.
After uncovering the rot at the NSS, some high-ranking officials were reported to have paid the BNI Ghc200,000 together with smocks, laptops, goats and tubers of yam to conceal their actions.
“Investigations revealed thousands of ghost names in all payment vouchers across the country. Though investigations have not been concluded, about 22,612 ghost names have so far been unearthed,” the newspaper read.
The State is said to have also lost Ghc7,914,200 every month.
Reacting to the issues, Atik Mohammed also bemoaned the attitude of the NSS officials and workers and called on the BNI to sanction the culprits.
According to him, the suspects have caused financial loss to the State, and such misconduct should not be tolerated at the NSS.
“An institution such as the National Service has recently become yet another example of the many corruption cases that by courtesy of this government, we have…We must empower our institutions to work and empowering institutions to work includes the fact that we need to have accurate and reliable database. Most specifically, it has to be electronic.
“There should be a very serious evaluation and monitoring department…” he advised.
Source: GhanaWeb
