Deputy Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Lt Col Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, has shared some updates on the issue of “ghost names” on the national service payroll has been eliminated under the Authority’s current leadership.
In a report by myjoyonline.com on April 20, 2026, Lt Col Kpeungu explained that the Authority has implemented stricter verification procedures to ensure that only duly validated personnel receive allowances.
According to him, the new system involves multiple layers of checks, beginning from the institutional level through district and regional offices, and culminating at the national headquarters before payments are approved.
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“We do monthly evaluations right from the institution and submit the form to the district level. From there, it goes through internal audit, the regional director, and finally to head office, where auditors and accountants verify all figures before submission to the Comptroller for payment,” he said. He noted that the reforms are aimed at enhancing accountability and safeguarding public funds, while addressing irregularities that previously plagued the payroll system.
Lt Col Kpeungu further disclosed that the measures have led to a significant reduction in government expenditure on national service allowances.
“Previously, the payroll was about GH¢1.7 billion. After introducing these strict verification processes, we reduced it significantly. As of 2025, we paid about GH¢7 million,” he revealed.
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He maintained that the strengthened system has effectively tackled the issue of inflated payroll figures and the presence of non-existent personnel.
“We made sure that ghost names are a thing of the past. It is no longer a matter of sitting down and taking money at the end of the month without proper validation,” he stated.
The issue of ghost names has long been a concern for the Authority, with past allegations linking earlier administrations to financial losses running into millions of cedis.
Background
It would be recalled that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, disclosed that a network including top officials within the National Service Authority (NSA) caused the state to lose over GH¢548 million through the inclusion of ghost names in the National Service Scheme payroll.
They include former Sports Minister and former NSS Executive Director, Mustapha Ussif; Ghana Football Association Executive Council member and former NSS Deputy Director, Gifty Oware-Mensah; and Osei Assibey Antwi, the immediate past Executive Director of the National Service Scheme and among others.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, June 13, 2025, he explained that an investigation by his office had uncovered how these individuals in positions of authority during the previous administration orchestrated what he described as a “criminal enterprise” involving directors, staff, and service providers.
