The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that former directors of the National Service Authority embroiled in the recent ghost names scandal will face formal charges in the first week of May 2025.
This decisive action follows President John Dramani Mahama’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the discovery of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll, a staggering anomaly unearthed during a nationwide headcount of active national service personnel.
The probe, initiated by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, aimed to reconcile and settle outstanding service allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.
The issue first came to light in an incisive investigative report by The Fourth Estate in November 2024, exposing the depth of the malfeasance.
Dr. Ayine underscored the progress made in the investigation, stating, “The investigations into the National Service ghost names scandal have progressed well. And we will be filing charges against some of the persons involved from the first week in May, I mean, a few days’ time.”
This pronouncement underscores the government’s resolve to hold accountable those implicated in this egregious scandal.
Moreover, the Attorney General disclosed that the government will soon bring charges in other high-profile cases, including the contentious Sky Train project, the National Cathedral, procurement of mathematical sets, and the Senior High School WiFi initiative.
He noted that dockets are being meticulously prepared for prosecution in these matters, signaling a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability.
In a related development, the National Investigations Bureau grilled former Executive Director of the NSA, Osei Assibey Antwi, over his alleged involvement in the payroll fraud. Accompanied by his legal counsel, Antwi responded to questioning, underscoring the thoroughness of the investigation.
