SONA: Mahama orders manhunt for persons involved in NSS scandal

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a thorough investigation into the National Service Scheme (NSS) ghost names scandal, which involves the criminal addition of over 80,000 ghost names. Delivering his State of the Nation address, President Mahama described the scandal as “brazen theft of public funds” that “must not go unpunished”.

According to President Mahama, the scandal could have yielded the suspects over 50 million Ghana cedis every month. Unfortunately, some of these suspects are believed to have already fled the country. “It is estimated that the criminal addition of some more than 80,000 ghost names could have yielded the suspects over 50 million Ghana cedis every month. Unfortunately, some of these suspects are believed to have absconded from the country already,” he stated.

To ensure that the suspects face justice, President Mahama has directed that they be declared wanted and their assets frozen until investigations are completed. “I have directed that they be declared wanted and their assets trenched and frozen until investigations are completed,” he declared. The President has also tasked the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment to coordinate and submit to Parliament a legislative instrument to support the implementation of the recently passed National Service Authority Act 2024, Act 1119.

The National Service Ghost Names Scandal has raised concerns about corruption and the mismanagement of public funds in Ghana. The scandal is believed to have resulted in a significant financial loss to the state. President Mahama’s directive is seen as a commitment to transparency and accountability in governance, making corruption a high-risk endeavor.

According to a report by the Ghana Integrity Initiative, a local chapter of Transparency International, Ghana loses an estimated GHS 13 billion annually to corruption. The report highlights the need for strong institutions and effective anti-corruption measures to prevent such scandals.