Attorney-General Dominic Ayine has confirmed that 12 former National Service Scheme (NSS/NSA) officials, alongside a network of vendors, will face formal charges for siphoning a staggering GH¢548.3 million through a “ghost-names” payroll scam spanning six years.
1. Who’s Being Charged
The 12 suspects, comprising high-ranking NSS officials and senior staff, include:
- Mustapha Ussif – former Executive Director
- Gifty Oware-Mensah – former Deputy Executive Director (alleged ringleader)
- Osei Assibey Antwi – ex-Director General
- Kwaku Ohene Gyan, Abraham Bismarck Gaise, Kwaku Adjei, Iddrisu Abubakar, Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi, Prince Awuku, Jacob Yawson, plus two unnamed accomplices.
Mr. Ayine stated that vendor networks also conspired in the scheme—billing for undelivered services and muddying financial trails .
2. Mechanism of the Fraud
The scam involved adding 81,885 ghost names to the NSS payroll and using falsified ID details—including index numbers—to siphon funds. At one point, GH¢50+ million was drained monthly; the most significant losses occurred during the 2022/23 service year.
3. The ORAL Initiative & Legal Pursuit
This case forms part of Operation Recover ALL Loots (ORAL), the government’s asset recovery and anti-graft strategy. Investigations have concluded, and the Attorney‑General’s office intends to file charges starting July 2025, with efforts to reclaim the stolen funds underway.
4. Attorney‑General’s Statement
Deputy AG Ayine underscored the scale of the scandal—a “serious breach of public trust”—and vowed legal scrutiny will continue until the final cedi is recovered and justice is served.
Why It Matters
| Dimension | Impact |
|---|---|
| Financial Loss | Over GH¢500 million lost to systemic fraud |
| Accountability | High-level public officials held to account |
| Policy Impetus | Strengthened anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts |
| Public Confidence | Demonstrates commitment to transparency and restitution |
What to Watch Next
- July Prosecution: Formal charges expected in court by early next month.
- Vendor Accountability: Cases against complicity in billing fraud.
- Asset Recovery: Tracing stolen funds via bank records and financial audits.
- Legislative/Institutional Response: Strengthening AML, payroll controls, and NSS oversight.
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