At least 17 individuals have been identified as persons of interest in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption at the National Service Secretariat (NSS), following revelations of 81,885 suspected ghost names on the payroll.
Five key figures have emerged as primary subjects of the probe, including Mustapha Ussif, the first NSS appointee under President Akufo-Addo; Henry Nana Boakye; Gifty Aboagye Mensah; Kwaku Ohene Djan; and Osei Assibey Antwi, who succeeded Ussif in 2021.
The remaining 12 individuals, comprising former and current directors and civil servants at the NSS, will be named later. They served between 2017 and January 2025.
Investigations by The Fourth Estate suggest that, since at least 2018, thousands of fake names were added to the NSS payroll annually.
The discrepancy came to light after President John Mahama ordered a review of the payroll data.
The probe revealed that while only 98,145 service personnel were actively serving, the previous management had submitted a payroll for 180,030 personnel—an inflation of 81,885 names.
The President has directed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to conduct a full inquiry into the NSS’s operations and implement stricter verification measures to prevent further fraud.