NSA ghost names scandal – Adomonline.com https://www.adomonline.com Your comprehensive news portal Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:47:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.adomonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-Adomonline140-32x32.png NSA ghost names scandal – Adomonline.com https://www.adomonline.com 32 32 NSA ghost names scandal: Investigative report fingers 22, with over ¢560m set for recovery https://www.adomonline.com/nsa-ghost-names-scandal-investigative-report-fingers-22-with-over-%c2%a2560m-set-for-recovery/ Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:38:26 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2544323

The Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem Sai, has disclosed that investigators probing the presence of ghost names in the National Service Authority (NSA) have submitted a damning report implicating 22 individuals in the alleged theft of over GH¢560 million.

Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews on Wednesday, Dr Srem Sai revealed that this is part of a broader investigation into financial irregularities within the NSA.

“National Service operates in different aspects,” he explained. “There’s an aspect involving projects the Secretariat undertakes—they have farms where they acquire property, grow and sell produce. Then, there’s the issue of paying ghost National Service personnel.”

He confirmed that the investigative team has so far completed work specifically on the ghost names aspect.

“The report was submitted last week by the investigators. We have started building a docket on that,” he said.

According to Dr Srem Sai, the report identifies 22 individuals as responsible for the ghost names-related financial loss. “We are talking about over GH¢560 million. That’s what we are looking at from the 22 individuals investigators believe are responsible for, if you like, alleged looting,” he added.

However, he noted that not all 22 may face prosecution in court.

“You have to weigh the cost in terms of time and effort of prosecuting all these individuals against the benefit of recovering the money,” he stated.

He disclosed that many of the suspects have shown a willingness to cooperate. “A lot of them—only a few are not willing—but a lot are willing to return the money,” he said.

Some have also offered to serve as prosecution witnesses. “They’ve shown a desire not only to return the money but also to testify against others,” he noted.

As a result, the number of individuals eventually charged could be lower than the 22 named in the report.

“Before we go to court, the number will not be 22. It will come down because we are still in talks with these individuals,” he explained.

Dr Srem Sai also confirmed that plea bargaining is an option for some of the accused.

“After we charge them, they have the opportunity to enter plea bargains—admit guilt, negotiate reduced sentences, and return the money,” he said.

He noted that these discussions allow suspects to explain why they should be granted leniency in exchange for restitution and cooperation.

Importantly, Dr Srem Sai stressed that this ghost names investigation is only one part of a broader probe into the operations of the NSA.

More reports are expected on other aspects of the National Service Secretariat’s projects, he added.

“For now, our focus is on recovery and justice—one conversation at a time,” he concluded.

ALSO READ:

]]> NSS Ghost Saga: Investigative report names 22 accused; over GHC500M set for recovery – Dr. Srem-Sai. nonadult Former NSA boss paid MP to kill ghost names scandal – AG https://www.adomonline.com/former-nsa-boss-paid-mp-to-kill-ghost-names-scandal-ag/ Mon, 24 Mar 2025 13:07:18 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2518215 The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a former Chief Executive of the National Service Scheme (NSS) paid a Member of Parliament (MP) to suppress the ghost names scandal.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, March 24, 2025, Dr. Ayine disclosed that his office had obtained evidence of financial transactions involving top executives of the NSS, vendors, and private individuals.

“Indeed, we now have evidence of payments that were made into the accounts of the top executives of the National Service by vendors, private vendors, and staff of the scheme.

“We also have evidence that in November 2024… the CEO of the National Service Scheme and others paid a Ghanaian MP to kill the story in the media, and to defend them. Now, this is a developing story, and more of it will come out very soon,” he stated.

The Attorney General, however, did not disclose the identities of the individuals involved.

Investigations into the NSS uncovered that previous officials had bypassed mandatory validation processes, allowing thousands of nonexistent names to be added to the payroll.

This scheme facilitated the siphoning of millions of Ghana cedis meant for national service personnel.

The irregularities were detected during a Ministry of Finance-led headcount of active National Service personnel as part of efforts to clear allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.

Following the verification exercise, GH₵226,019,224 was disbursed to pay 98,145 personnel—far lower than the 180,030 names initially submitted.

ALSO READ:

]]>