Former Nationwide Service Authority Director Mustapha Ussif has categorically rejected allegations linking him to an enormous GH¢548 million payroll fraud scheme that allegedly occurred throughout his tenure on the establishment.
The Yagaba-Kubori Member of Parliament has issued a complete assertion asserting his innocence whereas expressing readiness to face authorized scrutiny in what has grow to be one in every of Ghana’s most vital monetary scandals.
The size of the alleged fraud
The felony enterprise that resulted on this colossal loss concerned the creation of ghost names within the NSA payroll system by some administrators and workers, which was subsequently exploited to misappropriate state funds for his or her private achieve, in response to Lawyer Common Dominic Ayine.
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The scandal concerned the insertion of 81,885 ghost names into the Nationwide Service Scheme’s payroll, permitting suspects to syphon public funds on an enormous scale.
The fraudulent scheme was notably subtle, with the NSS payroll in 2024 itemizing 180,030 names whereas solely 98,145 personnel have been confirmed to be in energetic service, creating an inflation of 81,885 ghost names that value the state roughly GH¢50 million each month.
Ussif’s response and background
Mr Ussif, who led the NSA from 2017 to 2020, emphasised his dedication to transparency and accountability all through his public service profession.
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He maintained that his administration was characterised by diligence and integrity.
That stated, it’s my fervent perception that when you maintain public workplace, it is best to in any respect materials occasions, and at no matter value, be prepared, keen, and capable of account on your stewardship.
Subsequently, I want to state that I’m prepared, keen, and capable of account for my stewardship on the Nationwide Service Scheme (NSS) from February 2017 to January 6, 2021
The broader investigation
These implicated embody Mustapha Ussif, former Government Director; Osei Assibey Antwi, former Director Common; Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Government Director; Kweku Ohene Gyan, former Deputy Government Director for Operations; and Abraham Bismark Gaisie, former Head of Deployment, amongst others.
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The investigation has revealed how officers on the Nationwide Service Authority circumvented obligatory validation processes for funds of allowances to nationwide service personnel, enabling hundreds of nonexistent names to be added to the payroll.
The denial follows Lawyer Common Dominic Ayine’s announcement that Mr Ussif is amongst twelve people slated for prosecution in reference to the alleged monetary irregularities on the Authority.
Throughout a press briefing on Friday, Dr Ayine revealed that investigative proceedings had been accomplished relating to what he characterised as systematic corruption inside the NSA, with a full docket on investigations into the Nationwide Service Scheme payroll scandal prepared and offered to his workplace.
Ussif welcomes authorized problem
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Mr Ussif has embraced the prospect of authorized proceedings as a chance to vindicate himself and restore his popularity.
He expressed confidence within the judicial course of whereas calling for restraint from his political and private supporters.
Consequently, I welcome any alternative to take action, together with however not restricted to having my day in a court docket of competent jurisdiction.
I subsequently urge all well-wishers, pals, household, constituents, members of the New Patriotic Social gathering (NPP) and most of the people to be calm, realizing very nicely that I’ve, all through my public life, served with diligence and honesty
The NSA scandal represents one of the important circumstances of alleged monetary malfeasance in Ghana’s public sector, with the fraudulent actions spanning a number of years and involving subtle manipulation of digital payroll techniques.
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Fairly than stopping fraud, the NSS’s digital system has been co-opted to facilitate one of many nation’s most brazen monetary scams, the place pretend identities—some belonging to non-existent people and even 90-year-old “graduates”—recurrently acquired nationwide service stipends.
The case is anticipated to draw important public consideration because it includes high-profile political figures and exposes systemic weaknesses in Ghana’s public monetary administration techniques.
The prosecution of this case will possible function a litmus check for the present administration’s dedication to combating corruption and guaranteeing accountability in public workplace.
