The Ghanaian government is ramping up efforts to bring to justice key individuals implicated in the National Service Authority (NSA) ghost names scandal, some of whom have reportedly fled to countries without extradition agreements with Ghana.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, disclosed this alarming development while speaking on Joy FM’s news analysis program on Saturday. He assured Ghanaians that legal measures were being explored to ensure the fugitives face prosecution.
“These culprits knew exactly what they were doing. They deliberately escaped to countries where Ghana has no extradition agreements to avoid accountability,” he stated.
The revelations come in the wake of President John Dramani Mahama’s maiden State of the Nation Address on February 27, 2025, where he exposed the large-scale fraud within the NSA payroll system. Over 80,000 ghost names were discovered, costing the state more than GHS 50 million per month in fraudulent payments.
Determined to crack down on corruption, the President has ordered the immediate tracing and freezing of assets belonging to those implicated. He has also declared the suspects wanted and directed law enforcement agencies to track their movements.
In response to the scandal, the President has tasked the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment with drafting a Legislative Instrument (LI) to reinforce the recently enacted National Service Authority Act 2024 (Act 1119).
This new legal framework aims to tighten oversight, enhance payroll management, and prevent financial malpractice within the NSA.
Kwakye Ofosu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accountability, stating that no individual involved in the scandal would be allowed to escape justice.
“This is not just about recovering stolen funds; it’s about ensuring that corruption has consequences. These individuals must answer for their actions,” he stressed.
With a full-scale investigation underway and new legislative reforms on the horizon, the government is determined to restore integrity to the National Service Scheme and prevent future abuses of public funds.
