The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a forensic audit by the Auditor-General has uncovered a staggering GH¢2.2 billion loss to the state in the National Service Authority (NSA) ghost names scandal a sharp rise from the initial GH¢548 million estimate.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine explained that the revised figure followed a detailed forensic review of payroll data and disbursement records within the NSA.
“The Auditor-General’s forensic audit has now confirmed that the actual amount involved in the ghost names scandal at the National Service Secretariat is GH¢2.2 billion, not the earlier reported GH¢548 million,” he stated.
The National Service Authority, responsible for deploying thousands of graduates annually to various public and private institutions, has long faced criticism over weak monitoring systems and recurring reports of financial irregularities.
Dr. Ayine noted that the bloated wage bill stemmed primarily from payments made to non-existent service personnel “ghost names” fraudulently added to the system, enabling illegal diversions of state funds.
He assured Ghanaians that the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Auditor General’s office and relevant law enforcement agencies, will ensure that all those implicated are prosecuted and that efforts are made to recover the misappropriated funds.
