The National Service Authority (NSA) has reduced its annual payroll from about GH¢1.6 billion to GH¢700 million following the introduction of stricter verification measures.
Deputy Director-General of the Authority, Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, disclosed that enhanced payment controls now ensure only duly verified personnel receive allowances.
He explained that the new system is aimed at eliminating irregular payments, particularly those linked to ghost names, by enforcing rigorous checks before disbursements are made.
According to him, the significant savings were achieved not by reducing the number of national service personnel deployed across the country, but by tightening oversight of the payroll process.
Under the revised system, every service person must undergo a monthly evaluation, which must be endorsed by a supervisor at their place of posting before payment is approved.
Lt. Col. Kpeungu said the measures underscore the NSA’s renewed commitment to fiscal discipline and value for money.
“Previously, the payroll of the government was about 1.5 to 1.6 billion every year. As of last year, we paid barely about GH¢700 million,” he said in an interview with Joy FM.
The development comes amid ongoing legal proceedings involving former NSA Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy Gifty Oware-Mensah over allegations of ghost names on the Authority’s payroll.
The alleged scheme involves 9,934 non-existent national service personnel, with prosecutors indicating that the infractions may have caused the state losses exceeding GH¢38 million.
Lt. Col. Kpeungu further revealed that the Authority has cleared most arrears owed to service personnel, with only one month, March outstanding, adding that steps are underway to settle the remaining payments.
