The case, which was slated for a Case Management Conference (CMC), could not proceed after prosecutors notified the court that the Auditor-General had completed a performance audit into the operations of the NSA.

According to the prosecution, the audit report was forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department on February 16, barely a day before the scheduled hearing.

State attorneys indicated that an initial assessment of the Auditor-General’s findings showed that the current charges would need to be amended. However, due to the late submission of the report, the Republic was unable to file the revised charge sheet prior to the court date.

The prosecution subsequently applied for a brief adjournment to enable a thorough review of the audit findings and to formally amend the charges.

The court granted the request and adjourned the matter to February 25, when the accused is expected to enter his plea to the amended charge sheet.

Mr Assibey Antwi is facing several charges, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing and money laundering, in relation to the alleged “ghost names” scandal at the NSA.

Prosecutors contend that during his tenure, allowances were paid to thousands of non-existent national service personnel, leading to significant financial losses to the state.

He is also accused of transferring public funds into personal accounts and authorising withdrawals from NSA project funds without lawful justification.

The former NSA Executive Director has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges.

Out of this number, 1,840 individuals have been temporarily suspended as investigations by relevant security and investigative agencies continue.

Addressing a press briefing on Monday, December 15, the Director-General of the Authority, Ruth Dela Seddoh, disclosed that the anomalies were traced to discrepancies involving three tertiary institutions — the University of Development Studies (UDS), Ghana Communications Technology University, and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development.

According to her, the irregularities were detected after the Authority cross-checked the number of officially graduated students against the lists submitted by the institutions for national service deployment.

“The number of students who have officially graduated from the schools is compared with the number of students they submitted to us. When you do that, you realise that some schools are complicit in this whole thing, and I must emphasise that it is a huge cartel,” she said.

Mrs Seddoh described the findings as disturbing, noting that they point to a coordinated scheme involving multiple actors.

“Due to the outcome of a very detailed, thorough and comprehensive investigation, we made shocking discoveries that resulted in the flagging of 8,105 individuals in the system. Let me repeat, 8,105 individuals were flagged, and 1,840 individuals have been completely suspended pending the conclusion of further investigations by the security agencies,” she stated.

She added that the investigations uncovered serious misconduct at the three institutions involved.

“The investigations revealed a number of serious irregularities being perpetrated in three tertiary institutions — University of Development Studies, Ghana Communications Technology University, and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development. As a result, 10 members of staff from the various institutions have been arrested and are currently under investigation by the security agencies,” she said.

Responding to concerns about the closure of the national service portal after two extensions, six weeks after it was opened, the Director-General explained that the decision was deliberate and necessary for the validation process.

“This timeline was not arbitrary. For those who think it was just arbitrary on our part to shut the portal, that was not the intention,” she clarified.

She stressed that the shutdown was required to allow for reposting, proper validation, and verification of the physical presence of service personnel at their assigned institutions.

“There were many critical steps that had to follow this phase. It was a carefully structured process, and enforcing the deadline was essential to ensure accurate deployment records, confirm the physical presence of personnel at their stations, eliminate ghost or fraudulent registrations, and facilitate the timely payment of allowances to only verified personnel,” she explained.

In a public notice dated Thursday, November 6, 2025, signed by Deputy Director-General for Finance and Administration Donkor Fuseini, the NSA acknowledged receiving numerous calls, messages, and complaints regarding the delayed payments.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding as the processes are actively ongoing. The Directorate of Finance and Administration has confirmed that all necessary documentation and submissions have been completed and are currently with the Office of the Accountant-General for final approval and release of funds,” the statement read.

The NSA assured personnel that payments would be made immediately after approval, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the prompt disbursement of allowances going forward.

“We value your service to the nation and encourage all personnel to remain calm as we work closely with the relevant stakeholders to resolve this matter promptly,” the statement added.

The clarification comes amid growing concern among national service personnel, many of whom took to social media to express frustration over the delay in receiving their September stipends.

A technical and forensic audit by the Auditor-General has revealed that Gifty Oware-Mensah, Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), was improperly enrolled as a national service personnel while already serving as a full-time, salaried public officer.

The audit report indicates that Mrs. Oware-Mensah was manually uploaded into the National Service Scheme system on March 16, 2021, based on her Master of Public Administration degree from KNUST, despite being ineligible under statutory rules.

Her full allowance of GH¢6,708.48 (GH¢559.04 per month for 12 months) was deducted and paid to a vendor through the NSA’s “MarketPlace” platform for a purported credit facility. The enrolment was approved on April 22, 2021, by then-Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, who the audit notes lacked the authority to approve such a PIN assignment.

Mrs. Oware-Mensah was posted to Koblimahagu Sobriya Primary School in Tamale but did not report for duty or undergo any biometric validation, yet her name remained on the payroll.

The forensic audit further revealed that she was among 4,556 individuals improperly enrolled as service personnel, resulting in irregular expenditures totaling GH¢899,349.67. Only 19 of those enrolled met the basic criteria for validation and approval.

Investigators attributed the anomaly to manual overrides, weak system controls, and the absence of automated checks to prevent salaried public officers from being enrolled as national service personnel. The report also highlighted misuse of the NSA’s “MarketPlace” platform, which facilitated deductions and fund diversion without proof of goods or services delivered.

The Auditor-General warned that such actions breached public trust, compromised the integrity of the National Service Scheme, and created avenues for fraud. Recommendations included recovering the funds involved and surcharging Ms. Oware-Mensah and other responsible officials, including Osei Assibey Antwi and Eric Nyarko, with the full amount plus interest at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rate.

The report also advised that disciplinary action be taken against officers who bypassed standard protocols and that automated checks be implemented to prevent future instances of dual enrolment of public officers.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 22, at the Government Accountability Series, Dr Ayine revealed that the updated figure followed a comprehensive forensic examination of payroll records and disbursements within the scheme.

“The Auditor-General’s forensic audit has now established that the actual amount involved in the ghost names scandal at the National Service Secretariat is GH¢2.2 billion not the GH¢548 million that was previously reported,” Dr Ayine stated.

The National Service Authority, which deploys thousands of graduates each year to serve in various public and private organisations, has come under repeated scrutiny for weak oversight and persistent allegations of financial impropriety.

Dr Ayine emphasised that the inflated wage bill was largely due to the inclusion of non-existent service personnel, so-called “ghost names” who had been fraudulently inserted into the system, allowing payments to be siphoned off illegally.

He assured the public that the Ministry of Justice would work closely with law enforcement agencies and the Auditor-General’s office to ensure that those found culpable are prosecuted and that the state recovers as much of the stolen funds as possible.

Source: Emmanuel Tetteh  

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Mrs. Oware Mensah appeared before the Accra High Court on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, where she was formally charged with five counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, money laundering, and using public office for profit.

According to prosecutors, during her tenure at the NSA, she allegedly generated about 9,934 non-existent national service personnel and unlawfully profited from the monthly allowances paid under those ghost names.

The alleged acts reportedly caused the government financial losses exceeding GH¢38 million.

The case, prosecutors say, forms part of ongoing efforts by state authorities to address administrative and financial malpractices within public institutions, particularly those involving payroll fraud and ghost name syndicates.

Bail Granted

Counsel for the accused, Nanabayin Ackon, in an application for bail, argued that his client was a “responsible public servant with a fixed place of abode and no intention of interfering with investigations.”

He maintained that Mrs. Oware Mensah had “cooperated fully with investigators and was not a flight risk.”

After hearing the arguments, the court granted bail in the sum of GH¢10 million, with three sureties, two of whom must be justified.

As part of the bail conditions, Mrs. Oware Mensah is required to deposit all her passports with the court’s registry and report to the police on the first Tuesday and Thursday of every month until the case is concluded.

The prosecution is expected to file and serve all witness statements and evidentiary documents before the next sitting

Source : Adomonline

Mr Donkor explained that, unlike previous years, the audit will not only cover financial records but will also examine the operational system itself.

“Every year, the Auditor-General will subject our system to forensic audit again. That wasn’t the case before,” he said. “Normally, they audit the financials; they don’t audit the system itself. But this time around, the system will be audited.”

He stated that the new approach aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to strengthen institutional integrity and enhance public trust in state institutions.

According to Mr Donkor, the newly developed platform was also built at no cost to the taxpayer, in sharp contrast to the previous system, which cost the state over GH¢95 million.

“Per the instruction of the President, he wanted us to create a system without any cost to the taxpayer,” he explained. “So this system was created without any cost, unlike the previous one that cost us over 95 million cedis, this one, zero cost.”

He said the move reflects the government’s commitment to prudent financial management and the efficient use of public resources.

Source: Emmanuel Atakorah

According to the Acting Director-General of the Authority, Ruth Dela Seddoh, discussions are at an advanced stage to finalise the new rate.

Speaking to journalists in Accra, Ms. Seddoh declined to specify the percentage of the proposed increment but assured that the adjustment would be substantial.

“It is something that the President has expressed his interest in. But we all know the situation we find ourselves in, and so we don’t want to press him too hard. Let’s be hopeful.

“I don’t want to go ahead of the Minister, but I can assure you that we have had very good talks and we are hopeful that there will be some increment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the NSA has announced that online registration for the 2025/2026 service year will commence on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, and close on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

According to the Authority, the decision follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama after a Technical and Forensic Audit of the previous Central Service Management Platform (CSMP) revealed deficiencies in the system.

As a result, the NSA was directed to develop and deploy a more secure and transparent digital platform capable of ensuring real-time verification and accountability.

In a statement, the Authority indicated that all registrations completed in June 2025 are now invalid and instructed all prospective personnel to re-register.

It explained that this move became necessary after data integrity issues, including age discrepancies, were discovered during the earlier registration process.

Source: Adomonline 

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This comes after President John Dramani Mahama directed the Authority to develop a new and improved registration system, following a technical and forensic audit of the previous Central Service Management Platform (CSMP), which deemed the system unsatisfactory.

As a result, the NSA was tasked with creating a more secure, transparent, and efficient digital platform with real-time verification capabilities.

In a statement, the Authority declared that all registrations completed in June 2025 are invalid, instructing all prospective service personnel to re-register. The NSA explained that this action was taken due to data integrity issues, including age discrepancies detected during the earlier registration exercise.

The statement assured that all eligible applicants from the June registration would receive refunds of their service fees.

“All previous registrations from June 2025 have been declared null and void. Every prospective service personnel must re-register on the new platform,” the statement noted.

The Authority further indicated that detailed step-by-step guidelines for the registration process would be available on its new website, www.gnsa.gov.gh, beginning Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Additionally, the NSA announced the introduction of enhanced IT reforms and internal controls designed to combat payroll fraud and ensure the timely disbursement of allowances. It said the Authority is collaborating with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department to improve financial accountability and will undertake regular performance audits.

According to the statement, all national service personnel are required to report to their assigned stations on Saturday, November 1, 2025, with the service year officially starting on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Source : Adomonline

Read the full statement below:

Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express on Wednesday, February 12, he stated that his legacy will be defined by stringent auditing systems, standardized operating procedures, and an unshakable payroll system.

“By the time I leave, I want to be remembered for setting up a very stringent auditing system, standard operating procedures, and then instituting a robust payroll system. That’s if you were to come 10 years later, 20 years later, you would dare not touch it,” he declared.

For him, a well-structured payroll and auditing system is a foundational pillar to ensure efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. He envisions a future where service personnel receive timely payments without delays, fostering trust in the system.

Beyond structural reforms, Mr. Gyamfi urged Ghanaians to pay close attention to upcoming projects aimed at youth development, aligning with the President’s vision.

“I would want you to pay attention to the National Service Authority in the months to come, as we roll out a series of projects and schemes around the country to give real meaning to the President’s agenda for youth development,” he stated.

Addressing concerns over personnel preferences for urban placements, he revealed plans to achieve a 50% deployment parity between the private and public sectors. He believes strategic placements, including in rural areas, will significantly contribute to national development.

“We would be sending service persons to institutions where we feel their service will be felt the most. If it happens to be rural areas, that will be good, because we have to do something about the outcome of results in the Free SHS, which has become a question of intention,” he explained.

Mr. Gyamfi also emphasized national service as an opportunity for young Ghanaians to discover the country beyond major cities.

“People should get to know this country. We should encourage people to see other parts of this country so the idea behind national service is rightly achieved. The Tamale or Damongo people spoke about 10 or 12 years ago is not the same place. If you go to Savelugu today, it has changed completely,” he noted.

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