Felix Gyamfi, the Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), recently shared shocking news about payroll fraud linked to the National Service Scheme. On a TV3 program, he pointed out that a major public university had submitted names of imaginary students to the NSS.
He argued that this university played a big role in the fraud but chose not to name it due to possible legal trouble. "There’s a university in Ghana where a lot of this wrongdoing happened, but I can’t disclose its name," he explained, citing concerns about legal consequences.
When asked for details about how many fake names were submitted, Gyamfi remained vague, noting that the names had been removed from their system. He also mentioned peculiar cases, like 83-year-olds and even individuals from Kenya appearing on the payroll. “These ghost names are a part of our auditing, and we can track them,” he said.
Although the NSA has acted on this matter, Gyamfi indicated that if the Attorney General wishes to take further steps, they would reveal the university’s identity. "We’ve done what we can administratively to protect the reputation of this public institution," he added.
Recent statistics from the Media Foundation for West Africa cited similar instances, showing that people far beyond the eligible age were being fraudulently included on the service list. Surveys indicate that 32% of Ghanaians are concerned about corruption in national service programs, underscoring public frustration with the system.
In this digital age, where transparency is key, Gyamfi assured listeners that they could trace any anomalies in the process. "Every step is monitored. We keep track of universities and their submissions," he stated.
As the events unfold, the public eagerly watches how these allegations will impact the university involved and the integrity of the National Service Scheme. It’s a critical moment for accountability in Ghana’s public institutions.
For more on reports of NSS fraud, check out GhanaWeb.