The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that a forensic audit conducted by the Auditor-General has uncovered a staggering GH¢2.2 billion loss to the state through the National Service Authority (NSA) ghost names scandal, far higher than the initial estimate of GH¢548 million.

Speaking on Wednesday, October 22, at the Government Accountability Series, Dr Ayine revealed that the updated figure followed a comprehensive forensic examination of payroll records and disbursements within the scheme.

“The Auditor-General’s forensic audit has now established that the actual amount involved in the ghost names scandal at the National Service Secretariat is GH¢2.2 billion not the GH¢548 million that was previously reported,” Dr Ayine stated.

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The National Service Authority, which deploys thousands of graduates each year to serve in various public and private organisations, has come under repeated scrutiny for weak oversight and persistent allegations of financial impropriety.

Dr Ayine emphasised that the inflated wage bill was largely due to the inclusion of non-existent service personnel, so-called "ghost names" who had been fraudulently inserted into the system, allowing payments to be siphoned off illegally.

He assured the public that the Ministry of Justice would work closely with law enforcement agencies and the Auditor-General’s office to ensure that those found culpable are prosecuted and that the state recovers as much of the stolen funds as possible.