In a move aimed at promoting transparency and accountability, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to conduct a thorough investigation into the operations of the National Service Authority.
The directive follows the shocking discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the payroll, inherited from the previous administration.
According to sources, a recent headcount of active National Service personnel, ordered by the Finance Minister as a prerequisite for the clearance of allowance arrears dating back to August 2024, revealed a staggering disparity between the actual number of personnel and the names previously presented for payment.
The headcount showed that only 98,145 actual personnel were entitled to allowances, compared to the 180,030 names on the payroll.
The significant discrepancy has raised eyebrows, with many questioning how such a large number of ghost names went undetected for so long.
The Finance Ministry has since released GHS 226,019,224 to cover the allowance payment arrears for the verified personnel.
President Mahama has expressed deep concern over the discrepancy and has instructed the new management of the National Service Authority to implement urgent reforms to prevent such occurrences in the future.
“President Mahama has also tasked the new management of the Authority to carry out urgent reforms with the view to establishing adequate controls to prevent a recurrence of the phenomenon of ghost names,” said Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson to the President.
The investigation, to be conducted by the NIB, aims to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ghost names and to identify those responsible for the anomaly.
The probe is expected to promote transparency and accountability within the National Service Authority, restoring confidence in its operations and safeguarding public funds.
The development is seen as a major step towards tackling corruption and ensuring that public resources are utilized efficiently. It also underscores President Mahama’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.