In a bold move to combat corruption, President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the freezing of assets belonging to individuals implicated in the National Service Secretariat (NSS) payroll scandal and directed that the culprits be declared wanted.
The President made this announcement during his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, February 27, emphasizing that his administration is committed to holding public officials accountable.
“I have directed that culprits be declared wanted and their assets frozen,” he stated, reinforcing his government’s stance on transparency and accountability.
The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has intensified its probe into the NSS scandal, which involves fraudulent payments to ghost names on the payroll. Over the weekend, Yaw Danso, an Accountant at the National Service Authority (NSA), was detained for his alleged role in the scandal.
His arrest follows that of Kwaku Ohene Gyan, the former Deputy Director of Operations at NSA, who was taken into custody on February 22, 2025. Authorities are also pursuing Gifty Oware-Mensah, the former Deputy Executive Director of NSA, who is currently on the run.
Sources indicate that the payroll fraud has cost the state millions of cedis, prompting a broader anti-corruption crackdown.
The latest crackdown extends beyond the NSS scandal, as other high-profile figures are under investigation. Among them is Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, former Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), who was recently detained in connection with the $2 million Sky Train scandal.
With corruption cases making headlines, the NIB and other investigative bodies have ramped up efforts to trace assets, recover funds, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Yaw Danso remains in NIB custody, assisting investigators with details regarding his role in the payroll fraud. Meanwhile, security agencies have been deployed to track down remaining suspects in what is shaping up to be one of the biggest anti-corruption crackdowns in Ghana’s recent history.
As the investigations unfold, the public awaits further developments, with many calling for swift legal action against those found guilty.
