Over GH¢548m Vanishes in NSA ‘Ghost Names’ Scandal — AG
Over GH¢548 million was lost to a payroll fraud scheme involving over 8,000 ghost names at the National Service Authority, with officials from the previous administration accused of orchestrating the scam, according to the Attorney General.
- Over GH¢548 million lost through ghost names on NSA payroll
- Scheme involved high-ranking officials during Akufo-Addo’s administration
- Investigation underway under Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a sophisticated criminal network within the National Service Authority (NSA) orchestrated a massive payroll fraud, resulting in the loss of more than GH¢548 million to the state.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, June 13, 2025, Dr. Ayine shared details of ongoing investigations under the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative — a major anti-corruption drive.
The scandal, he said, involved the inclusion of over 8,000 fictitious names—commonly referred to as “ghost names”—on the NSA payroll, leading to years of siphoned funds. The probe was launched following a directive by President John Dramani Mahama to the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to investigate reported irregularities.
Dr. Ayine noted that the fraudulent scheme was masterminded by high-ranking officials during the Akufo-Addo administration, including directors, staff, and external service providers.
“In total, we lost about GH¢548,333,542.65 to this criminal enterprise,” he said. “The perpetrators created fake identities on the payroll system and diverted the funds for personal enrichment.”
The Attorney General described the operation as a deeply embedded fraud ring that exploited systemic weaknesses for financial gain. Investigations are ongoing, with prosecutions expected to follow.
