The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered significant irregularities in its payroll system, resulting in 8,105 personnel being flagged during a recent internal investigation. Of these, 1,840 individuals have been temporarily suspended pending further inquiries by relevant investigative bodies.
At a press briefing on Monday, December 15, NSA Director-General Ruth Dela Seddoh revealed that the discrepancies were detected in three tertiary institutions: the University of Development Studies (UDS), Ghana Communication Technology University, and the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development.
“We compared the number of officially graduated students with the lists submitted to us by the institutions,” Seddoh explained. “It became clear that some schools were complicit, forming part of a larger cartel perpetuating these irregularities.”
Seddoh described the findings as shocking, emphasizing that 10 staff members from the various institutions have been arrested and are now under investigation by security agencies. The Authority’s comprehensive probe highlighted serious cases of fraudulent practices within the affected schools.
Addressing concerns over the closure of the national service portal after two extensions, Seddoh clarified that the decision was made to facilitate reposting, ensure proper validation, and verify the physical presence of personnel at their assigned posts. “The timeline for shutting the portal was not arbitrary,” she noted. “It was structured to ensure accurate deployment records, eliminate ghost names, and enable timely payment of allowances to verified personnel.”
The NSA said it will continue to work closely with security agencies to complete investigations and implement measures to prevent future occurrences, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability in the national service scheme.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
