Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a forensic audit by the Auditor-General has uncovered a staggering GH
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has revealed that a forensic audit by the Auditor-General has uncovered a staggering GH¢2.2 billion loss to the state from the National Service Authority (NSA) ghost names scandal — a sharp rise from the initial estimate of GH¢548 million.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine explained that the revised figure emerged after a detailed forensic review of payroll data and disbursement records within the scheme.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has confirmed that the Auditor-General’s forensic audit has uncovered a total loss of GH¢2.2 billion in the National Service Authority (NSA) ghost names scandal — significantly higher than the earlier reported figure of GH¢548 million.
“The Auditor-General’s forensic audit has now established that the actual amount involved in the ghost names scandal at the National Service Secretariat is GH¢2.2 billion, not the GH¢548 million that was previously reported,” Dr. Ayine stated.
The NSA, which deploys thousands of graduates annually to public and private institutions, has long faced criticism over weak oversight and recurring allegations of financial mismanagement.
Dr. Ayine explained that the massive financial loss was primarily caused by the inclusion of non-existent service personnel—so-called “ghost names”—who were fraudulently added to the payroll, allowing illicit payments to be made over time.
He assured that the Ministry of Justice would collaborate with the Auditor-General’s office and relevant law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible to justice and to recover as much of the stolen funds as possible.