The National Service Authority (NSA) has flagged 8,105 suspected ghost names and suspended 1,840 individuals pending further investigations by state security agencies.
The development follows a forensic investigation into systemic anomalies in the 2025/2026 national service enrolment process. NSA Director-General, Ms Ruth Dela Seddoh, revealed that early detection of these irregularities has prevented potential financial losses estimated at GH¢68.64 million annually, which would have been paid as allowances to unqualified or fraudulently enrolled personnel.
Investigations identified serious irregularities linked to three tertiary institutions: the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana Communications Technology University (GCTU), and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED). As a result, 10 staff members from these institutions have been arrested, alongside some NSA staff currently under interrogation.
Ms Seddoh explained that the discoveries were made possible after the NSA dismantled its old system and replaced it with a centralised digital platform, enabling enhanced internal controls and multiple layers of verification. This included forensic analysis of payment records, cross-referencing flagged names with official databases, and onsite verification visits.
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"The anomalies detected pointed to deliberate attempts by cartels to infiltrate the system with fraudulent entries," she said. She added that the new system ensures transparency in payments through automated cross-checks with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database and improved banking trails.
To prevent recurrence, the NSA has strengthened verification processes, implemented periodic audits, and trained institutional staff on compliance and data integrity. The authority is also pursuing legal action against culpable individuals and institutions to serve as a deterrent.
Ms Seddoh expressed satisfaction that, despite attempts by cartels to manipulate the system, the new digital platform effectively blocks fraudulent entries, protecting the integrity of the national service scheme.
