In a bid to eliminate payroll irregularities, the Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has announced that recent investigations have resulted in a situation whereby 2,000 ghost names will be removed from the payroll.
He said this has yielded a monthly savings of approximately GHC1,430,000.
“This year, with the exposure that we have made, I’m expecting that by June there will be a difference in the payroll numbers. I expect that at least the payroll should go down by 2,000 names. This is widespread. It is happening nationwide. I think 2,000 translates to GHC1,430,000 a month, if we are able to get 2,000 off the payroll. I want every cedi we’ve spent here to mean well for government, Ghana, and the National Service,” he said in an interview with TV3 on May 15.
Mr Gyamfi made this disclosure while responding to reports of corruption within the NSS, including the recent interdiction of two District managers in the Eastern Region who fraudulently processed allowances for 29 individuals on study leave or full-time employment, misrepresenting them as regular service personnel.
“When we met with all the District and Regional Directors, if the two men from Birim had walked up to me and said we have 29 people in our payroll who we suspect are public servants who are already getting paid, I wouldn’t have exposed it publicly. I would have dealt with it internally and looked for ways to maybe move them away from the district or interdict them quietly. But to the extent that you didn’t tell me and I found out through a third party, then I have to expose it and I think that’s how you fight corruption,” Mr Gyamfi explained.
To combat payroll fraud, the NSA will integrate its data with the Controller and Accountant General’s database to identify irregularities. Individuals found submitting falsified allowance claims will face legal repercussions.
“This year, we are going to put the National Service data through the Controller and Accountant General’s data for all those who are already working under government agencies or public service. If you’re already being paid by the government of Ghana and you submit yourself as a regular service person, there will be issues,” he stated.
In a separate development, the official NSS military training attire has been finalised, aligning with military training standards.
The uniform consists of a camo green cap, shirts, trousers, and sturdy boots. On August 3, 10,000 service personnel will report to military barracks nationwide for a six-week training program aimed at instilling discipline and fostering nationalism.
The NSS is working closely with the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure trainees are medically and physically prepared for the rigorous training ahead.
