NSA-Vendor Scandal: Former NASPA President Urges Fairness in Investigations, Defends Vendors’ Role

Kwame Owusu Bampoe, former President of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) in the Ashanti Region, has called on the Office of the Attorney General to ensure fairness and impartiality in the ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities involving the National Service Authority (NSA) and associated vendors.

In a statement, Mr. Bampoe emphasized the need for a thorough and balanced approach to the probe, urging authorities to avoid unjustly implicating vendors who have historically supported national service personnel (NSPs) through essential welfare services.

He clarified a critical structural misunderstanding in the public discourse, stating that the NSA does not directly contract vendors for the supply of goods or credit services. Instead, these arrangements are coordinated by NASPA — the elected welfare body representing NSPs — at both regional and district levels.

“That responsibility lies squarely with NASPA,” he stated, noting that public commentary has often misattributed this role to the NSA.

According to Mr. Bampoe, NASPA leadership typically negotiates agreements with vendors to supply items such as mattresses, electronics, mobile phones, and emergency credit facilities. These agreements include repayment plans deducted from service personnel’s monthly allowances — a system that has helped ease the financial burden on NSPs, particularly those deployed to remote or unfamiliar areas.

In his view, the vendor community has played a crucial, good-faith role in supporting young Ghanaians during their year of national service. He warned that branding vendors as part of a “criminal enterprise” could unfairly tarnish their reputations and harm livelihoods built over years of honest service.

“Vendors do not have access to NSA’s internal systems. If fraud involving ghost names occurred, responsibility should lie with those who have privileged access within the NSA,” he argued.

Mr. Bampoe stressed that accountability must be accompanied by procedural fairness, and that vendors mentioned in connection with the investigations should be given the chance to present their side of the story and submit relevant documentation.

He further commended the Attorney General’s Office for its commitment to upholding transparency and rule of law, but cautioned against actions that could inadvertently harm those who have contributed meaningfully to national service delivery.

“Injustice is not only done through corruption, but also when innocent contributors to national development are unduly vilified,” he concluded.

He called for a diligent, balanced, and transparent investigation that maintains the integrity of the process while safeguarding the reputation and contributions of all involved parties — especially those who have supported the welfare of Ghana’s national service personnel.