The Tema office of the National Service Secretariat is under investigations by the National Security, following Joy News’ exposé of a criminal syndicate that takes advantage of National Service postings to rob the state and service persons of huge sums of money.

Investigations conducted by Joy FM's Fred Smith, exposed the ring leaders, some of whom have been planted within the National Service Secretariat to help enlist what appear to be fake and non-existent organizations on the National Service Programme.

The syndicate, which operates from Manhean, an outskirt of Tema, end up sharing the monthly allowance with the service personnel.

Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Wednesday, that the Tema Office as well as its Director, have been placed under investigations to establish their involvement “in the chain”.

“We have invited National Security to look into these breaches and we are hoping to resolve and to ensure that the system is protected,” Mr. Ablakwa said.

Hints

According to Mr. Ablakwa, the attention of the Ministry was drawn to the development some three months ago, which has led to investigations into the scheme by the Office of National Security.

“We got some hint of what was pertaining within the National Service Secretariat, and National Security had moved in for about three months now… and so, we are not too surprised at your undercover story,” Mr. Ablakwa said on the Show.

He, however, maintained that the preliminary investigations conducted by his Ministry suggested the incident may not be widespread contrasting it with the amount of work done to ensure the postings were successful nationally.

“We are aware a few miscreants who are taking advantage of the system but this is not on a very large scale; that’s what our preliminary investigations seem to project,” Mr. Ablakwa told host of the Show, Kojo Yankson.

He added: “I am not over estimating the system… [But] you will always have people trying to hack into the system and take advantage of it”.