Ghana’s National Service Authority Deletes 2,000 Ghost Names From Payroll, Saves Ghc 1 Million

Felix Gyamfi

Source: Africa Publicity

The National Service Authority (NSA) of Ghana says it is saving Ghanaian taxpayers at least Ghc 1 million after deleting about 2,000 ghost names from its payroll.

Director-General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, announced that the payroll cleanup exercise is part of ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and eliminate fraud within the scheme.

According to him, the data of service personnel will now be shared with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department of Ghana for cross-verification to prevent duplication and unauthorized entries.

He cautioned that “If you’re already on another payroll — whether as a police officer, immigration officer, or army officer — and you’re doing national service just to meet the requirement, do not submit your allowance form this month.”

Gyamfi added that “We are now working closely with the NIB and other security agencies, and anyone who attempts to defraud the system will be arrested.”

Ghost Names Scandal

It would be recalled on the 30th of April this year, Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine announced that former National Service Authority (NSA) directors implicated in the ghost names scandal were going to be formally charged in the first week of May 2025.

Dr. Ayine’s announcement was in compliance with with directive by Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama, for a full investigation into the discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll.

The anomaly was identified during a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, had said.