National Service Fraud: Three Universities Implicated in Ghost Name Irregularities and Scandal
The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered widespread irregularities in its registration system, implicating three universities in what officials describe as a coordinated attempt to inflate student numbers and enroll unqualified individuals into the national service scheme.
Damian Owusu 
The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered widespread irregularities in its registration system, implicating three universities in what officials describe as a coordinated attempt to inflate student numbers and enroll unqualified individuals into the national service scheme.
The institutions cited in the probe are:
University for Development Studies (UDS)
Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU)
Akenteng Appiah-Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED)
A total of 8,105 individuals were flagged during the verification process. 1,840 individuals have been suspended pending further investigations. NSA officials discovered discrepancies between the official graduation lists of the universities and the figures submitted for national service registration.
Acting Director-General Ruth Dela Seddoh described the situation as part of a “cartel” involving some schools, stressing that the irregularities could have cost the state millions of cedis annually. “We cross-check the number of students who have officially graduated from the school and compare that with the number submitted to us. Some schools are complicit in this whole cartel,” she said.
Ten staff members from the implicated institutions, along with some NSA officials, have been arrested and are under interrogation. Several university staff suspected of involvement have been temporarily relieved of their duties. Authorities estimate that the fraud could have led to losses of over GH¢68 million annually if undetected.
UDS has announced an internal audit to reconcile graduation records with submissions.
GCTU pledged full cooperation with investigators and is reviewing its data submission protocols.
AAMUSTED has begun plans to digitize and automate student verification systems to prevent future lapses.
University officials emphasized their commitment to upholding integrity and promised disciplinary action against any staff found complicit.
The scandal has raised concerns about systemic weaknesses in the national service registration process and the need for stronger collaboration between tertiary institutions and the NSA. While investigations continue, the implicated institutions are moving to restore credibility through audits, reforms, and cooperation with authorities.
