Ghana Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced the prosecution of 12 former directors and staff of the National Service Authority (NSA) accused of orchestrating a vast criminal enterprise that siphoned over GH₵548 million (about $36 million) in state funds.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday as part of the government’s anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), Dr Ayine detailed how the NSA was used to divert public funds through ghost names and fictitious vendors over several years.
How the scheme worked
The AG explained that prior to each service year, inflated budget figures were submitted to parliament by NSA officials. These figures were later used to justify the transfer of excess funds from the Ministry of Finance to NSA project accounts. The funds were then misappropriated under the guise of executing projects.
A particularly egregious tactic involved deploying non-existent personnel—’ghost names’—onto the NSA’s payroll system. These fake names were processed by the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) for payment, alongside legitimate service personnel.
Data from 2018 to 2024 showed that while 587,543 personnel were verified by the central management system, GhIPSS made payments to 650,165—indicating 63,672 ghost names were added, amounting to a massive GH₵548,333,542.65 (about $36 million) lost to the state.
Vendors and laundering links
According to the AG, vendors colluded with NSA staff to inflate the number of items or loans supplied to service personnel. Once paid, a portion of the funds was funnelled back to NSA officials. Some vendors have since entered into non-prosecution agreements and will testify for the state.
Among the largest beneficiaries was Marine Ventures, which received GH₵50,750,923.15 (about $3.3 million), and Alfida Ventures with GH₵21,362,272.43 (approx. $1.4 million). Another suspect, Gifty Oware Mensah, allegedly used ghost names to secure a GH₵38,698,218.69 (about $2.6 million) loan from the Agricultural Development Bank using fake credentials.
The funds were then traced to four different company accounts, all linked to suspects under investigation.
Legal action and asset recovery
The Attorney-General confirmed that the 12 former NSA officials—including former director-general OB Entry and former deputy executive director Gifty Oware Mensah—will face charges including theft, money laundering, conspiracy, and wilfully causing financial loss to the state.
Vendors named for prosecution include owners of Marine Ventures, GH Orch Ventures, Brainwave Ventures, and others across Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti regions.
‘Operation ORAL’ will also investigate and recover assets linked to the stolen funds, including bank accounts, real estate, and vehicles. Dr Ayine emphasised that recovery is central to the operation’s mandate.
‘We shall leave no stone unturned,’ the AG said. ‘This is not just about jail time—it is about returning what rightfully belongs to the people of Ghana.’
More prosecutions coming
Responding to questions from the press, Dr Ayine confirmed that additional suspects—including vendors offering to cooperate—are being evaluated. Investigations are also ongoing into two Members of Parliament, one of whom is negotiating a plea bargain.
The first set of charges is expected to be filed by early July. ORAL, launched in January, is designed to aggressively pursue financial recovery while holding perpetrators accountable.
The AG dismissed concerns about political targeting, insisting all prosecutions are based strictly on evidence.
‘Ghanaians deserve accountability—not just in words, but in real action,’ Dr Ayine said.
Credit: Africabriefing
