GHS 548 Million Stolen Through National Service Ghost Names — Attorney General
Attorney General Dominic Ayine reveals GHS 548 million lost through ghost names on the National Service payroll from 2018 to 2024, with GHS 350 million stolen in 2022/2023 alone.
Isaac Mintah The Attorney General of Ghana, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has revealed a staggering financial scandal involving the National Service Scheme (NSS), where ghost names on payrolls led to a total loss of GHS 548,333,542.65 over six service years.
Speaking at a press briefing, Dr. Ayine presented detailed findings from investigations into systemic payroll fraud within the NSS — highlighting 2022/2023 as the worst year, with a loss of over GHS 350 million alone.
Year-by-Year Breakdown of NSS Ghost Names Payroll Fraud:
|
Service Year |
Amount Lost (GHS) |
|
2018/2019 |
25,857,836.16 |
|
2019/2020 |
21,613,962.24 |
|
2020/2021 |
55,670,584.32 |
|
2021/2022 |
61,383,025.74 |
|
2022/2023 |
350,926,977.12 |
|
2023/2024 |
32,881,157.07 |
|
Total |
548,333,542.65 |
Biggest Loss in 2022/2023
The 2022/2023 service year alone accounted for nearly 64% of the total losses, with GHS 350.9 million reportedly siphoned off through non-existent personnel on the payroll.
“This scale of abuse not only represents a serious breach of public trust but also undermines the sustainability of public youth employment programs,” Dr. Ayine stated.
Ongoing Investigations and Recoveries
The Attorney General emphasized that criminal investigations are ongoing, with some individuals already under probe for their role in facilitating the fraudulent payroll entries. Measures are being put in place to recover funds and tighten oversight of NSS operations going forward.
Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability
The shocking revelation has triggered strong public outcry, with civil society groups and citizens demanding swift prosecutions, reforms in the payroll system, and greater transparency from the National Service Secretariat.
Several anti-corruption watchdogs have urged the government to implement biometric verification, audit digitization, and cross-agency payroll audits to prevent future abuse.
Conclusion
The exposure of nearly GHS 550 million lost to ghost names in Ghana’s National Service Scheme underscores the urgent need for systemic reform and accountability. As investigations continue, all eyes are now on whether those responsible will face justice — and how quickly government can seal the loopholes that allowed this massive financial leakage.
