Ghana’s President Orders Probe into 81,000 Ghost Names on Payroll

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has ordered an investigation into the National Service Authority (NSA) operations after a headcount uncovered 81,000 suspected ghost names on its payroll. The discovery followed an effort to clear arrears in allowance payments for graduates in mandatory one-year service roles.

A statement from the presidency confirmed that the finance ministry had disbursed 226 million Ghana cedis ($14.6 million) to just over 98,000 legitimate payees. However, according to a Reuters report, how much may have been lost in previous payments to fraudulent names remains unclear.

The NSA coordinates the national service scheme, which places university graduates in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and local government. Ghost names suggest systemic fraud that may have persisted for years.

The probe will examine how the ghost names were inserted into the payroll and whether officials knowingly facilitated the fraud. Analysts believe the findings could expose a more extensive corruption network within the public sector.

The discovery has sparked public outrage, with many calling for strict reforms to prevent future occurrences. Civil society organisations have urged the government to publish the full investigation report and prosecute those involved. The presidency has assured that the probe will be thorough and transparent.

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