Over 120,000 National Service Personnel illegally paid beyond one-year limit
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
A forensic audit conducted by the Auditor-General has uncovered massive financial irregularities at the National Service Authority (NSA), revealing that more than 120,000 National Service Personnel (NSPs) were irregularly paid allowances beyond the legally mandated one-year service period.
According to the Technical and Forensic Audit Report presented to Parliament on 1 October 2025, a staggering GHS1.01 billion in public funds was disbursed to service personnel who received payments exceeding the approved 13-month limit, which includes a one-time travel and transport allowance.
The audit examined payroll data from 2018 to 2024 and found that 120,777 individuals continued to receive monthly stipends well after the official completion of their national service.
In some cases, payments reportedly spanned several years, suggesting deep-seated payroll manipulation and weak oversight within the institution.
“Our audit analysis of payroll data revealed widespread anomalies, where some National Service Personnel were paid well beyond the statutory 13-month maximum, with payments spanning multiple years,” the report stated.
These findings, auditors said, constitute a clear violation of Act 426 of 1980, which governs the National Service Scheme and stipulates a one-year compulsory service for all eligible Ghanaians aged 18 and above.
The report further indicated that the irregular payments form part of a broader pattern of fiscal mismanagement at the Authority, bringing total detected financial irregularities to GHS2.45 billion over the review period.
Other anomalies include payments to vendors without valid contracts, missing procurement documentation, and transactions without proof of service delivery.
The Auditor-General described these lapses as symptomatic of a broken internal control system, stressing that the gravity of the findings requires urgent institutional reforms and potential criminal prosecution of those found culpable.
“The anomalies reflect serious lapses in payroll management and internal controls within the Authority. A comprehensive review of the payroll system is urgently required, alongside investigations to determine individual accountability,” the report recommended.
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is expected to summon officials of the NSA to respond to the findings and outline steps to recover the funds.
