President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an investigation into the National Service Authority’s payroll scandal, which uncovered 81,885 ghost names. This revelation came to light after a headcount of National Service personnel, initiated by the Minister for Finance, exposed a discrepancy between the number of personnel and the figures presented by the previous management.
The investigation, to be conducted by the National Investigations Bureau, aims to delve into the operations of the National Service Authority under the previous government. President Mahama’s action demonstrates his commitment to governance.
The ghost names were detected during a headcount exercise, which was a prerequisite for clearing allowance arrears dating back to August 2024. Upon completion of the headcount, the Ministry of Finance released GHS 226,019,224 to settle the arrears of 98,145 National Service personnel. This number is lower than the 180,030 names originally submitted for payment in 2024.
President Mahama has tasked the management of the Authority to implement reforms. These reforms will focus on establishing controls to prevent the recurrence of ghost names on the payroll.
The presidency’s response to this scandal sends a message about the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in public institutions.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
