The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has announced a temporary suspension of the 2025/2026 National Service Scheme (NSS) registration process following the shutdown of its Centralised Management System (CMS).
Speaking during the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House on Monday, August 4, the Minister explained that the CMS had been taken offline to allow for a comprehensive forensic audit, following a directive from the presidency.
He revealed that the decision was triggered by the discovery of widespread financial irregularities linked to the system, described as the “ghost name scandal.”
The CMS had allegedly been used to facilitate large-scale fraud involving non-existent personnel on the NSS payroll.
“National security is currently investigating the matter, and the Attorney-General’s office is reviewing the case for potential legal action,” Mr. Opare Addo stated.
As a result, the registration and payment processes for the upcoming NSS year have been paused.
Although pincodes for prospective service personnel have already been generated and class lists submitted by tertiary institutions, the CMS shutdown has disrupted the next phase of enrolment.
Around 130,000 graduates are expected to be deployed under the 2025/2026 scheme to support various sectors across the country.
The Minister assured the public that efforts are underway to introduce a new, secure digital system to replace the compromised platform.
“We are developing a new comprehensive platform that meets all required technical specifications and safeguards the integrity of the process,” he said.
Source: Ernest Arhinful
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