By Nadia Ntiamoah
The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered a large-scale payroll fraud scheme in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region, implicating senior officials and a growing number of public servants across the country.
In a press release issued on May 14, 2025, the NSA disclosed that the scheme was exposed through internal intelligence and a tip-off from a whistleblower.
The misconduct involves the District Manager and the Management Information Systems (MIS) Manager, who have both been interdicted following a preliminary investigation.
According to the NSA, the two officials admitted to validating and processing monthly allowances for individuals who were not eligible to receive them.
Specifically, they fraudulently approved payments for 29 individuals in the 2024/2025 service year and 49 others in the previous year—individuals who were either on “Study Leave with Pay” or were already gainfully employed in full-time positions.
These persons were misrepresented as regular National Service personnel, thus benefiting from monthly allowances unlawfully.
This latest scandal adds to a worrying pattern of abuse that has plagued the Authority for years, as the NSA acknowledged.
Beyond Birim North, the NSA revealed a broader scheme in which permanent employees in various sectors—including education, healthcare, customs, and other civil services—have been enrolling as national service personnel despite actively drawing salaries from their primary employment.
By doing so, these employees received dual compensation—monthly salaries from their official employers and allowances from the National Service scheme—contrary to public service laws and National Service protocols.
“This is a flagrant violation of the Public Services Commission Act, 1994 (Act 482),” the NSA stated, citing Section 12 of the Act, which demands honesty, integrity, and accountability from public officials.
The abuse primarily stems from the manipulation of enrolment categories. Individuals on “Study Leave” or those serving belated national service while already employed are not entitled to allowances.
Their appointment letters and enrolment procedures clearly outline their ineligibility.
However, some of these individuals allegedly collude with NSA District Managers to reclassify their service status, enabling them to receive benefits meant only for regular service personnel.
The NSA emphasized that this conduct amounts to unlawful enrichment, misappropriation of public funds, and a betrayal of public trust.
In response, the Authority is rolling out aggressive reforms, including cross-referencing enrolment records with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) database to flag identity fraud and double compensation.
As part of the clean-up, the NSA has directed all individuals currently benefiting from this fraudulent scheme to immediately cease submitting allowance claims and report to their respective regional NSA offices by May 23, 2025, for rectification of their records.
The Authority warned that failure to comply would lead to public exposure—including the publication of names and photographs—and referrals to law enforcement for prosecution.
The NSA also noted that its internal intelligence units, in collaboration with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), have been monitoring the situation covertly and are prepared to pursue every offender, regardless of when the offence occurred.
“We have zero tolerance for payroll fraud,” the statement said firmly.
“Offending NSA staff will be dismissed and banned from future public employment. Public servants found culpable will also face termination, legal action, and permanent disqualification from public office.”
