The Ghanaian government is set to launch a wave of high-profile prosecutions in the coming days, with former officials of the National Service Authority (NSA) first in line over their alleged roles in a sprawling payroll fraud scandal involving nearly 82,000 ghost names.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, announced on April 30 that charges will be filed in the first week of May 2025 against implicated former NSA directors. The prosecutions follow a directive by President John Dramani Mahama, who ordered a full-scale investigation after a nationwide headcount exposed widespread payroll anomalies.
The discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll—uncovered during an audit led by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson—was aimed at reconciling unpaid service allowances dating back to August 2024. The investigation gained momentum after a damning exposé by investigative journalism outfit The Fourth Estate in November 2024.
Former NSA Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi, is among those under scrutiny, having been questioned by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) on March 20, accompanied by legal counsel.
Dr. Ayine emphasized that the investigations into the NSA scandal are at an advanced stage, with dockets ready for court action. “From the first week of May, we will begin filing charges against key individuals involved,” he stated.
In a broader crackdown, the Attorney-General revealed that prosecutions are also imminent in several other major corruption cases, including the Sky Train project, the National Cathedral controversy, the procurement of mathematical sets, and the SHS WiFi contract.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Dr. Ayine remarked. “They are part of a systemic effort to restore accountability and integrity in public service.”
The announcement marks a renewed push by the Mahama administration to signal zero tolerance for corruption amid growing public concern over financial mismanagement in state institutions.
