The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the successful removal of over 2,000 ghost names from its payroll, a move projected to save the state in excess of GH¢1 million.

Speaking on the development, the Director-General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, stated that the payroll sanitisation forms part of broader efforts to promote transparency and eliminate fraud within the national service scheme.

He revealed that going forward, the data of service personnel would be shared with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department for cross-verification to prevent duplication and unauthorised entries.

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

The announcement comes in the wake of a directive by President John Dramani Mahama for a full investigation into the discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA’s payroll.

On 30th April, Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine disclosed that former directors of the NSA implicated in the scandal would be formally charged in the first week of May 2025.

According to Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the anomaly was uncovered during a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel.

The headcount was commissioned by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, as part of a broader audit aimed at reconciling and clearing outstanding service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.

The irregularities were initially exposed in an investigative report published by The Fourth Estate in November 2024.

Subsequently, on 20th March, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) invited the former Executive Director of the NSA, Osei Assibey Antwi, for questioning over his alleged role in the payroll fraud.

Other NSS officials have been interrogated and are awaiting prosecution by the State.