A technical and forensic audit conducted by the Auditor-General has uncovered alarming payroll irregularities within the National Service Authority (NSA).

It revealed that “710 National Service Personnel (NSPs) who were not found in the official CSMP database received a staggering GH¢7,508,592.92 through GhanaPay and Ezwich payment platforms.”

The findings, contained in the Technical and Forensic Audit Report on the Centralised Service Management Platform (CSMP) and Metric App of the National Service Authority covering the period January 2018 to December 2024, point to significant weaknesses in the service’s payroll management and verification systems.

According to the report, some of the service numbers linked to these payments appeared fabricated, with codes suggesting future service years.

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As part of its recommendations, the audit called for the immediate suspension of all unverified payments, recovery of wrongful disbursements, and the sanction and surcharge of culpable officers involved.

It also urged the NSA to integrate its CSMP biometric validation system with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) payroll platform to enhance oversight and prevent future occurrences.