NSA Flags 8,105 Personnel Over Payroll Irregularities, Suspends 1,840
The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered widespread irregularities within its system, leading to the flagging of 8,105 personnel on the national service payroll.
Out of this number, 1,840 individuals have been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of investigations by relevant state investigative and security agencies.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, December 15, the Director-General of the Authority, Ruth Dela Seddoh, disclosed that the irregularities were traced to three tertiary institutions: the University of Development Studies (UDS), Ghana Communications Technology University, and Akenten Appiah-Mina University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development.
According to her, the anomalies were detected after the Authority cross-checked the number of officially graduated students against the lists submitted by the institutions for national service deployment.
“When we compare the number of students who have officially graduated from these schools with the number submitted to us, we realise that some institutions are complicit in this entire scheme. I must emphasise that this is a huge cartel,” she stated.
Ms. Seddoh explained that the Authority conducted a detailed, thorough and comprehensive investigation, which led to what she described as “shocking discoveries.” As a result, 8,105 individuals were flagged in the system, while 1,840 were suspended to allow for further investigations.
She further revealed that the investigations exposed serious irregularities within the three institutions, leading to the arrest of 10 staff members who are currently assisting security agencies with ongoing probes.
“The investigations uncovered a number of serious irregularities being perpetrated in these institutions. As part of the outcome, 10 members of staff from the various universities have been arrested and are under investigation by the security agencies,” she said.
Addressing concerns surrounding the shutdown of the national service portal six weeks after it was opened despite two deadline extensions. Ms. Seddoh explained that the decision was necessary to ensure reposting, proper validation, and the verification of the physical presence of personnel at their assigned institutions.
“This timeline was not arbitrary. For those who think the portal was shut arbitrarily, that was never the intention,” she clarified.
She added that the process was carefully structured to ensure accurate deployment records, confirm the physical presence of service personnel, eliminate ghost names and fraudulent registrations, and facilitate a re-validation exercise.
“After this validation phase, we were to subject the personnel to another re-validation and ensure the timely payment of allowances to only verified personnel,” she noted.
The NSA has assured the public of its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the national service system and pledged to work closely with security agencies to bring all perpetrators to book.
