Update: Indicted NSS director, others ordered to step down

The board of the National Service Scheme has dismissed the Acting Executive Director, Alhaji Alhassan Imoro, with immediate effect, TV3 can confirm.

He has been, consequently, handed over to the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for further interrogations.

The decision was taken on Friday, October 3 by the board after an emergency meeting, which reviewed latest revelations that Alhaji Imoro had tried to bribe operatives of the BNI to conceal the "deep-rooted rot" at the Scheme.

The Deputy Director of Finance, Michael Kunbuor, and the Director of Information Technology (IT), Fiifi Asubonteng have also been dismissed alongside.

The decisions were communicated to TV3's Komla Klutse on Friday by board chairman Gifty Bayira Mahama.

A Daily Graphic report on Thursday, October 2 revealed financial misappropriation to the tune of Ghc7.9 million at the Scheme.

That amount is said to be the July allowances of over 22,000 ghost persons uncovered by BNI.

Further investigations are being carried out, TV3 gathers, as two district coordinators of the Scheme have also been picked up.

Below is the full statement from the NSS Governing Board

GHANA NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

GOVERNING BOARD

PRESS RELEASE

The Governing Board of the Ghana National Service Scheme has directed the Executive Director of the Scheme, ALHAJI ALHASSAN IMORO and his two Deputies, MR. MICHAEL KOMBOR, in charge of Finance & Administration and MADAM SOPHIA KAREN AKUAKO, in charge of Operations.

The following Headquarters Staff have also been directed to step aside. They are:

MR. FIIFI ASUBONTENG, the Director of IT

MR. ALHASSAN IDDRISU, the Director, PPME

MS. GLORIA AKU MENSAH, the Ag. Internal Auditor

Furthermore, the Greater Accra Regional Director, MR. SETH ASIEDU, and ALL other officers of the Scheme whose names have so far been cited in the on-going investigations are to step aside.

The above Decisions were taken at an Emergency Board Meeting held on Friday, 3rd October, 2014.

Meanwhile the Governing Board, headed by its Chairman, has temporary taken over management of the Scheme until further notice.

These actions by the Board is informed by its strong desire and determination to pave way for the on-going investigations into the operations of the Scheme and to ensure that all persons who may be found culpable are appropriately sanctioned according to law.

The Board wishes to assure the general public that since its inauguration on 9th December, 2013, it has, and will continue, to pursue the path of public accountability and elimination of all corrupt practices in the operations of the Scheme.

SIGNED

GIFTY MAHAMA BIYIRA (MRS)

BOARD CHAIRMAN