Ghana’s Auditor General has uncovered a staggering loss of more than GHS 548 million due to fraudulent “ghost” names on the National Service Scheme (NSS) payroll, according to Attorney General Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine.
The revelation comes amid a broader scandal that surfaced earlier this year, when President John Dramani Mahama ordered a probe into the NSS after a headcount revealed only 98,145 active service personnel, compared to 180,030 names listed by the previous administration—a discrepancy of 81,885 ghost entries . This mismatch prompted the Finance Ministry to disburse GHS 226 million to verified staff, calling into question the legitimacy of tens of thousands of additional names .
Dr. Ayine, citing detailed audit findings, confirmed that the ghost payroll scheme has siphoned off over GHS 548 million in public resources. The inflated payroll—fuelled by fake identities, false student numbers, and possibly collusion among payroll managers—has drained national coffers for months . Reuters previously reported the initial discovery of ghost names after the headcount exercise initiated by President Mahama .
In response, President Mahama launched Operation “Recover All Loot” (ORAL), a dedicated effort to trace assets, freeze accounts, and bring those responsible to justice . Investigators are now pursuing suspects, some of whom fled the country, and are under orders to monitor and seize any questionable assets . The government has also initiated reforms, including legislative changes and improved biometric payroll verification, aimed at preventing future abuse .
Public reaction has been harsh. Social media users expressed outrage, lamenting that roughly GHS 51 million could be lost monthly—funds that might otherwise have supported schools, hospitals, or roads . Critics question why past ghost-name scandals never led to prosecutions.
With more rigorous systems now being rolled out, officials hope this scandal will mark a significant turning point in Ghana’s fight against entrenched public-sector corruption.