Investigators probing the Nationwide Service Scheme (NSS) Ghost Names scandal have recognized 22 people related to the large fraud, with some suspects reportedly prepared to return stolen cash and testify in opposition to their co-conspirators as prosecution witnesses.
Deputy Lawyer Normal Dr Justice Srem Sai disclosed this improvement in an interview with JoyNews, stating,
Investigators have recognized 22 people in connection to the NSS Ghost names scandal, a few of whom are prepared to return all stolen cash and to testify in opposition to the remaining accused individuals as prosecution witnesses.
“Investigators have recognized 22 people in connection to the NSS Ghost names scandal, a few of that are prepared to return all stolen cash and to testify in opposition to the remaining accused individuals as prosecution witnesses.”
—Deputy Lawyer Normal, Dr. Justice Srem Sai pic.twitter.com/qwq8SpMRCc— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) June 11, 2025
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The NSS Ghost Names scandal first got here to mild in February 2025 when the federal government uncovered a big discrepancy within the Nationwide Service payroll, revealing 81,885 suspected ghost names.
The ghost names had been detected following a headcount of energetic Nationwide Service personnel, performed on the behest of the Minister for Finance as a prerequisite for clearing allowance arrears relationship again to August 2024.
The Ministry of Finance launched GHS 226,019,224 upon finishing the headcount.
President John Dramani Mahama subsequently ordered a complete investigation into the scandal in February 2025, describing it as a critical breach of public belief.
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Scale of the fraud
The size of the fraud has been staggering. It’s estimated that in some unspecified time in the future the felony addition of greater than 80,000 ghost names might have yielded the suspects over GH¢50 million a month.
Inside data present that 1000’s of further names are added via the creation of faux index numbers and private identification numbers (PINs) linked to nonexistent college students.
Officers on the Nationwide Service Authority (NSA) circumvented necessary validation processes for funds of allowances to nationwide service personnel, enabling 1000’s of nonexistent names to be added to the payroll.
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Exterior investigations and media involvement
The scandal gained further consideration when the Workplace of the Particular Prosecutor obtained a proper petition from the Media Basis for West Africa (MFWA) requesting an investigation into claims of widespread corruption within the Nationwide Service Scheme (NSS).
The Fourth Property, a media organisation, performed an important position in exposing the scandal.
Nonetheless, allegations emerged that
In November 2024, the CEO of the NSS and others paid a Ghanaian Member of Parliament to kill the story within the media and to defend them
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In accordance with Dr Dominic Ayine at a press convention held on March 24, 2025.
NSS denial and counter-claims
The Nationwide Service Authority has constantly denied the allegations.
The consequence and the proof of the elimination of tried fraudsters within the Nationwide Service portal have been overwhelming, and since 2021, it has drawn curtains on the presence of “Ghost Names” within the Nationwide Service system, the NSA acknowledged in its official response.
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The authority claimed that the digital system backed by constant and progressive monitoring coupled with superior expertise (the usage of the Ghana card, the facial verification system and the target proof of eligibility from the tertiary establishments) introduced extremely fascinating outcomes.
Present Authorized Proceedings
The identification of twenty-two people marks a big milestone within the investigation.
The willingness of some suspects to cooperate with authorities by returning stolen funds and offering testimony in opposition to co-conspirators suggests prosecutors are using plea bargaining methods to expedite the case and maximise fund restoration.
The cooperative strategy signifies that among the accused individuals could obtain extra lenient remedy in change for his or her help in constructing instances in opposition to the remaining suspects who select to not cooperate.
