Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a criminal network operating within the National Service Authority (NSA) caused the state to lose over GH¢548 million through the fraudulent insertion of ghost names into the national payroll system.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, June 13, 2025, Dr. Ayine described the network as a well-organised criminal enterprise involving senior directors, staff members, and service providers, allegedly active during the Akufo-Addo administration.

“This criminal enterprise resulted in the creation and exploitation of ghost names in the NSA payroll system. It was deliberately designed by insiders for personal enrichment,” he said.

Breakdown of Financial Losses
• 2022/2023 Service Year: GH¢350,926,977.12
• 2023/2024 Service Year: GH¢32,881,157.07
• Total Estimated Loss: GH¢548,333,542.65

These revelations form part of findings from the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) taskforce, initiated to trace and retrieve misappropriated public funds.

Presidential Directive and NIB Involvement

The disclosure follows a directive by President John Dramani Mahama mandating the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to probe massive payroll irregularities at the NSA. Earlier audits uncovered over 8,000 ghost names on the authority’s payroll, prompting national outrage.

Dr. Ayine emphasized that those implicated would face criminal prosecution, noting that the scale of the fraud reflects “systemic decay” and a betrayal of public trust.