An investigation into the National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered what prosecutors describe as an organised fraud that siphoned more than ₵548 million from stipends meant for national service personnel between 2018 and 2024, through thousands of invented “ghost names,” forged IDs and fake e-payment cards.
According to a detailed dossier compiled from investigative reporting and handed to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, tens of thousands of fictitious recruits were entered into the NSA system using fabricated index numbers and counterfeit identity documents. The scheme allegedly exploited vendor billing, loan facilities and monthly payroll deductions so that money intended for genuine trainees was channelled into private accounts.
Digital tools introduced to strengthen registration instead became a vulnerability. The NSA’s “Metric App,” which was rolled out with AI and face-recognition features and intended to verify Ghana Cards, failed to enforce strict identity checks. Investigators found that alternative IDs — including company IDs, fire service cards and student IDs — were accepted, and some “live” photos uploaded during registration were actually stock or foreign images. That breakdown in authentication enabled automated enrolment of ghost identities and the issuance of fake eSwitch cards tied to non-existent personnel.
The mechanics of the fraud were multi-layered. Beyond payroll diversion, the report shows how ghost names were used as collateral to secure loans and credit from banks via vendor companies created to invoice the system for goods supposedly supplied to the phantom recruits. Some vendors have since returned funds or entered plea negotiations, while others remain under investigation.
Prosecutors say the Attorney-General has identified multiple suspects and is pursuing criminal charges. At least eight individuals — including three former NSA officers — have reportedly approached authorities for plea talks, and the AG’s office is examining a roster of officials and vendors implicated in the scandal. The exact final loss may rise as further audits and residuals are calculated, officials warned.
The scandal has provoked public outrage and renewed calls for institutional reform. Civil society groups, former service personnel and opposition legislators demand transparent prosecutions, asset recovery and a full audit of vendor contracts and loan arrangements tied to the national service payroll. Experts say urgent steps are needed to harden identity verification, tighten vendor due diligence and introduce independent oversight over payroll disbursements.
For affected service personnel — many of whom worked months without allowances — the scandal has real human costs. Investigators highlighted shocking anomalies in the enrolment data, such as purported recruits aged in their 80s and 90s and foreign nationals listed as Ghanaian service members, indicators that the falsified records were systemic rather than accidental.
Key reforms recommended in the report include strict enforcement of Ghana Card verification in the Metric App, mandatory live biometric checks during registration, independent audits of vendor billing and a public register of vendor contracts linked to stipends. Observers say prosecuting those responsible and recovering misappropriated funds will be crucial to restoring public confidence in the National Service programme.
As the Attorney-General’s office advances criminal proceedings and the Office of the Special Prosecutor continues its probe, the NSS “ghost names” affair is likely to dominate public debate on digital transformation, accountability and public financial management. For now, investigators and reform advocates agree on one point: technology alone cannot substitute for strong controls, transparent procurement and rigorous oversight.
