The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a high-level criminal syndicate embedded within the National Service Authority (NSA) was responsible for siphoning more than GH¢548 million in state funds through a ghost names scheme.
Addressing the media during a government anti-corruption briefing, Dr. Ayine described the operation as a deliberate and systematic abuse of public office, implicating several former directors, executives, and external service providers who served under the Akufo-Addo administration.
The revelations are part of ongoing probes under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative — a flagship corruption recovery programme launched by the current government. The investigation follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, who tasked the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to probe the discovery of over 8,000 ghost names on the NSA payroll.
“This was not an accident. It was a well-orchestrated criminal enterprise, deeply rooted in leadership circles at the NSA,” Dr. Ayine disclosed. “Through this scheme, the state lost GH¢548,333,542.65 — a staggering figure that reflects both betrayal and impunity.”
He detailed how NSA payroll systems were manipulated, with fake names inserted and salaries paid out to non-existent personnel — funds that were then diverted by insiders for personal enrichment.
While the probe is still ongoing, the Attorney General confirmed that several suspects have been identified, and dockets are being built for prosecution. He warned that the full force of the law will be brought against those who abused their positions, stressing the Mahama administration’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Dr. Ayine further indicated that the investigation could expand to other state agencies, noting that the ghost name scam may not have been confined to the NSA alone.
“Our commitment is not only to recover stolen public funds but to send a strong message: public service is a duty, not a looting spree.”
The scandal marks one of the largest payroll fraud cases in Ghana’s history and has reignited calls for digital accountability systems, biometric verification, and deeper oversight in public financial management.
The government is expected to announce additional measures in the coming days aimed at strengthening internal controls within all public agencies and restoring public confidence in the integrity of civil service structures.
