If You Decided to Pay as Many as 63,000 Ghost Names, How Do You Expect Us to Defend This? – Bejejugu

According to an Official Facebook Post by Basiru Bejejugu on November 11, 2026, the National Service Authority ghost names scandal has exposed what he considers a major failure by former officials of the institution to support young people who contributed to the New Patriotic Party’s electoral fortunes. In a post captioned, “Instead of providing voluntary placement for the countless NPP youth across Ghana who voted against the party, you decided to psy as many as 63,000 ghost names, how do you expect us today to come and defend this?”, Bejejugu questioned why thousands of young party supporters were allegedly overlooked while fictitious names received payments through the National Service payroll system.

His comments followed fresh revelations during the ongoing criminal trial involving former National Service Authority Deputy Executive Director Gifty Oware-Mensah. During proceedings on November 11, prosecution witness Detective Sergeant Collins Woode told the court that forensic analysis of the Authority’s Central Management System had identified 63,673 faceless names that received allowances despite not performing any national service work.

The investigator explained that the names appeared in payment records submitted to Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) for the processing of monthly allowances during the 2023 and 2024 service periods. He further testified that the names had no verifiable identities and that investigators traced the payment list to the accused person. These are prosecution findings presented in court and remain subject to examination through the trial process. citeturn795008search0

Reacting to the revelations, Bejejugu directed his criticism towards the former NPP administration, arguing that the National Service Authority should have been used to provide opportunities for young people who supported the party, including those who voted for the NPP but were unable to secure placements.

He questioned why former officials would allegedly facilitate payments to thousands of fictitious beneficiaries instead of creating opportunities for unemployed party supporters and other young Ghanaians seeking practical work experience and financial assistance.

In his post, he suggested that providing voluntary placements for approximately 40,000 NPP youth and another 20,000 young people could have made a considerable difference to the party’s political fortunes. His argument was that the allowances paid to genuine participants would have supported struggling households while strengthening the relationship between the party and its grassroots supporters.

Bejejugu also connected the alleged financial misconduct to the NPP’s electoral performance in the Ashanti Region during the 2024 general elections. He argued that several constituencies which traditionally supported the NPP recorded victories for the opposition National Democratic Congress, and blamed what he described as greed among some party officials for contributing to dissatisfaction among voters.

His comments reflect a broader debate about the relationship between political loyalty, public appointments and access to employment opportunities. However, the National Service Authority is a public institution with responsibilities to qualified Ghanaian graduates, irrespective of their political affiliation. Its placements and allowance payments should therefore be administered transparently and fairly rather than treated as rewards for partisan support.

The scale of the alleged payroll irregularities makes the case particularly significant. In June 2025, the Attorney-General announced that investigations had identified GH¢548.3 million in losses to the state through alleged National Service payroll fraud spanning six service years. The investigation identified the creation of fictitious beneficiaries and alleged collaboration involving officials and private-sector accomplices.

For Bejejugu, however, the scandal also represents a missed opportunity to support young people who expected assistance from the party they helped bring to power. His frustration is directed at former officials whose alleged actions, he believes, have made it difficult for current NPP members to defend the party’s record.

Ultimately, his message raises questions about accountability, the management of public institutions and the consequences of alleged corruption for both the state and political organisations. As the trial continues, the evidence presented in court will be crucial in establishing individual responsibility.

Source: Official Facebook Post by Basiru Bejejugu – November 11, 2026.

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