“No Ghana Card, No NSS”: NSA Enforces New Measures to Eliminate Ghost Names
Accra, Ghana – May 4, 2025
The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced stringent new measures aimed at eradicating ghost names from its payroll system. Effective immediately, prospective national service personnel must possess a valid Ghana Card to register for the mandatory one-year service.
This directive follows a recent audit revealing over 81,000 suspected ghost names on the NSA’s payroll, a discrepancy that has raised significant concerns about payroll fraud and financial mismanagement within the scheme.
Key Measures Implemented:
- Mandatory Ghana Card Requirement: All prospective service personnel must present a valid Ghana Card during registration. This move aims to ensure that only eligible individuals are enrolled, thereby preventing fraudulent entries.
- Accreditation Verification: Graduates from institutions without proper accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) will be disqualified from participating in the national service program.
- Biometric Validation: Service personnel are now required to undergo monthly biometric verification at NSA offices to confirm their active participation before allowances are disbursed.
- Strict Compliance Enforcement: Individuals exceeding the service age limit or those who bypass formal registration processes will be automatically disqualified from the program.
The Acting Director-General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, emphasized that these measures are part of a broader strategy to restore integrity and accountability within the national service scheme. He noted that previous administrations failed to implement effective checks, leading to systemic issues that have now necessitated decisive action.
In response to the audit findings, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to conduct a thorough investigation into the operations of the NSA. The goal is to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the payroll fraud and to recover misappropriated funds.
These reforms underscore the government’s commitment to combating corruption and ensuring that public funds are utilized effectively for national development.
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