AG uncovers GH¢548m NSS ghost payroll scandal

Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine has exposed a massive payroll fraud scheme at the National Service Secretariat (NSS), involving top-level administrators who allegedly diverted over GH¢548 million in public funds.

Widespread Payroll Manipulation

According to the Attorney General, senior officials, including the NSS CEO, district directors, and payroll officers, conspired to inflate the NSS payroll with tens of thousands of fake names. Investigators identified 81,885 ghost names that were illegally added to siphon funds meant for legitimate service personnel.

At its peak, the scheme reportedly generated over GH¢50 million monthly through fraudulent salary disbursements. Officials created fake index and ID numbers and manipulated systems to bypass standard verification processes.

Organised and Recurring Fraud

Dr. Ayine described the operation as “institutionalised and recurring.” He revealed that each year, NSS directors submitted inflated lump-sum payroll requests. These funds were then funneled into ghost accounts and redistributed among accomplices.

Evidence suggests top executives, including the CEO, used parts of the stolen funds for personal gain. In one case, investigators believe a Member of Parliament received a bribe in November 2024 to help suppress media coverage of the scandal.

Next Steps

The Attorney General’s office is preparing to file charges against those implicated. Authorities are also exploring asset recovery options and plea bargaining, where suspects may return stolen funds in exchange for reduced penalties or cooperation with prosecutors.

“We are committed to retrieving the stolen funds and holding all responsible parties accountable,” Dr. Ayine stated.