President Mahama Directs Investigation into National Service Authority Ghost Names Scandal

In an important turn of events, President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to undertake an immediate inquiry into the operations of the National Service Authority. This action follows the shocking discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names listed on the Authority's payroll. 

The finding emerged during a headcount of active National Service personnel, which was initiated by the Minister for Finance to address outstanding allowance arrears that date back to August 2024. The headcount indicated a considerable difference between the real count of personnel and the numbers reported by the previous management of the Authority.

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Key Findings:

• Ghost Names: 81,885 suspected ghost names were identified on the payroll.

• Actual Personnel: 98,145 confirmed National Service personnel.

• Arrears Clearance: The Ministry of Finance disbursed GHS 226,019,224 to pay off the arrears.

In response to the scandal, President Mahama has assigned the new management of the Authority to enact urgent reforms. These reforms are designed to create proper controls to avert the future occurrence of ghost names and to uphold the integrity of the payroll system.

The investigation and reforms signify a move towards fostering transparency and accountability within the National Service Authority. As the investigation continues, it will be crucial to keep an eye on the developments and to ensure accountability for those responsible for the ghost names scandal.