NSS Payroll Fraud: University Implicated in “Ghost Names” Scandal, Director-General Reveals

The Director-General of Ghana’s National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has unveiled startling new details regarding the extensive payroll fraud within the National Service Scheme (NSS). Following the recent implication of 12 former officials in the scandal, Gyamfi disclosed that a prominent public university actively participated in the illicit scheme by submitting lists of non-existent students for national service.

Speaking on TV3’s “Hot Issues” program on June 15, 2025, Gyamfi stated that this particular institution was significantly involved in the malfeasance. However, he refrained from publicly naming the university, citing potential legal repercussions and a desire to protect the institution’s credibility at this stage. “I could say to you today that there’s a particular university in Ghana where lots of the malfeasance occurred under their watch more than anywhere else… but because when I mention it, it would have legal implications and it would go against the credibility of the university,” he explained.

While Gyamfi did not specify the exact number of “ghost names” submitted by the university, he confirmed they were part of a larger list of non-existent individuals that have since been purged from the system. He further highlighted other alarming instances of payroll fraud discovered, including octogenarians and even Kenyan nationals found on the NSS payroll. Gyamfi referenced previous reports by the Media Foundation for West Africa, which had exposed such irregularities.

The Director-General assured the public that the NSA has already taken administrative actions concerning the implicated university. However, he emphasized that if the Attorney General decides to pursue criminal prosecution, the NSA will not hesitate to reveal the institution’s name. “There are issues that we could deal with administratively, also to protect the sanctity of an otherwise very viable public institution. We have taken the action that we have to take. We want to leave it like that,” Gyamfi stated. “If at any point in time the National Service Board or the Attorney General is interested in the matter, we will give it out there for them to act on that.”

Gyamfi underscored the transparency of the NSS’s current processes, noting that their system is now capable of detecting fraudulent entries from any source, including universities. He reiterated the NSA’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring that public resources are used judiciously. This ongoing investigation aims to restore integrity to the vital national service program.