ACCRA, GHANA – The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has provided a detailed breakdown of monies allegedly embezzled in the ongoing National Service “ghost names” scandal, revealing a staggering total of GHS 548,333,542. This significant disclosure comes as part of a media briefing held by Dr. Ayine under the broad banner of “Operation Recover All Loot,” signaling a robust government initiative to reclaim misappropriated public funds.
This colossal sum represents funds siphoned off through fraudulent means within the National Service Scheme, a vital institution responsible for deploying graduates for mandatory national service. The Attorney General’s pronouncement underscores the serious extent of financial malfeasance that has plagued this critical program, which is designed to provide essential manpower for various sectors of the Ghanaian economy and offer valuable experience to young professionals.
A substantial portion of this amount, specifically GHS 350 million, was reportedly stolen during the 2022/2023 service year alone.
This alarming figure highlights a concentrated period of fraudulent activity, indicating systemic vulnerabilities that allowed for such a significant depletion of resources intended for legitimate public service initiatives and the welfare of deserving service personnel across the country.
The Attorney General’s office has affirmed its commitment to actively pursuing the recovery of these substantial funds and ensuring that all individuals and entities implicated in the fraudulent scheme face prosecution.
This ongoing investigation, falling squarely under the “Operation Recover All Loot” initiative, underscores the government’s resolute efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability in public institutions, aiming to restore public trust and safeguard national resources.
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