GH¢548 Million Lost to ‘Criminal Enterprise’ at National Service Scheme, Attorney General Alleges
A staggering amount exceeding GH¢548 million has been lost to the state through a sophisticated network operating within the National Service Authority (NSA), orchestrated by the inclusion of “ghost names” in the National Service Scheme (NSS) payroll. This explosive disclosure was made by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, during a press briefing on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Dr. Ayine revealed that an extensive investigation conducted by his office had uncovered a “criminal enterprise” involving high-ranking officials during the previous administration. Among those implicated in this alleged scheme are prominent figures such as Mustapha Ussif, former Sports Minister and former NSS Executive Director; Gifty Oware-Mensah, a current Ghana Football Association Executive Council member and former NSS Deputy Director; and Osei Assibey Antwi, the immediate past Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, among others.
Detailing the financial impact, Dr. Ayine presented specific figures for the losses incurred over two service years. “In the 2022/2023 service year, GH¢350,926,977.12 was lost to the state. For the 2023/2024 service year, GH¢197,406,565.53 was lost to the republic,” he stated. Combining these figures, he concluded, “In total, as stated, we lost about GH¢548,333,542.65 to the criminal enterprise perpetrated by these executives, directors, and staff, as well as the service providers in the market.”
The Attorney General further explained the modus operandi of the alleged fraud. “The criminal enterprise that resulted in the loss of this colossal sum of money involved the creation of ghost names in the NSA payroll system by some directors and staff, which was subsequently exploited to misappropriate state funds for their gain,” he elaborated. This indicates a systemic manipulation of the payroll system to siphon off public funds.
In a significant development, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice confirmed that his office is poised to file criminal charges against Mustapha Ussif, Gifty Oware-Mensah, Osei Assibey Antwi, and other implicated individuals in the coming weeks. The charges will stem from comprehensive investigations into alleged financial misconduct that reportedly occurred during their respective tenures in public service. These charges are expected to include, but are not limited to, payroll fraud, misuse of public funds, money laundering, and other financial irregularities.
This announcement follows earlier reports and ongoing investigations into massive payroll discrepancies at the NSS, which have drawn considerable public scrutiny. The gravity of the alleged losses and the high-profile individuals implicated underscore the seriousness of the situation, as the government moves to prosecute those believed to be responsible for defrauding the state of hundreds of millions of Ghana Cedis. The impending court cases are anticipated to be a major focus in the fight against corruption within public institutions.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
