The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered a shocking case of corruption, implicating a public university in the ongoing ‘Ghost names’ scandal that has rocked the institution.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, June 15, 2025, NSA Director-General Felix Gyamfi disclosed that the university submitted fraudulent lists of non-existent students for national service placement.
However, he refrained from naming the institution, citing potential legal consequences and concerns about damaging its credibility.
“I could say to you today that there’s a particular public university in Ghana where a lot of the malfeasance occurred under their watch more than anywhere else, but because when I mention the name, it will have legal implications and go against the credibility of the university,” he stated.
Widespread Corruption and System Failures
According to Gyamfi, the NSA’s new digital verification system has flagged and eliminated 12,000 ghost names from the payroll system, as these individuals lacked Ghana Cards.
“This year, since I have been in office, the system has detected and I have deleted in the payroll about 12,000 people who do not have Ghana Cards, and none of the people have come to me to say that you have deleted my name from the system because I do not have a Ghana Card,” he disclosed.
He emphasized that the payroll system is undergoing a full audit, with findings set to be submitted to the NSA board for review.
“We have submitted [the payroll] for thorough check by one of the auditing firms in Ghana, and the report will be ready and submitted to the NSA board,” he added.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, recently revealed that Ghana lost more than GHC 548 million due to fraudulent activities within the NSA. He confirmed that charges would be filed against 12 individuals, including former Deputy Director Gifty Oware-Mensah, who is allegedly involved in the operation.
Ayine described how the criminal enterprise operated, stating that conspirators and market agents created ghost names to siphon funds into private pockets.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Action
Gyamfi assured the public that the Attorney-General’s office is actively investigating the case, and further revelations could expose even more fraudulent practices.
“There are more revelations that we can put out to indicate what the system can do, but it could be so damning to individuals and people, and the Attorney-General is working on it,” he stated.
The NSA scandal has long been a source of controversy, with concerns over funds being looted through fictitious service personnel. Authorities promise to crack down on perpetrators and introduce stronger measures to protect public resources.
As investigations continue, the Ghanaian public awaits justice, hoping this case will set a precedent for transparency and accountability in government institutions.
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