Ghana’s government has launched an investigation into 81,000 suspected “ghost names” on its National Service payroll, a move signaling President John Dramani Mahama’s intent to fight systemic corruption.
The probe follows a headcount aimed at clearing arrears in allowance payments for graduates undertaking mandatory service placements. According to the presidency, the finance ministry had disbursed 226 million Ghana cedis ($14.6 million) to over 98,000 verified beneficiaries, leaving a significant portion of funds under scrutiny.
“This is about accountability,” President Mahama stated in Accra. “We cannot let public funds be siphoned off when Ghanaians are working hard to rebuild the economy.”
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Ghana, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, is recovering from its worst economic crisis in decades, characterized by soaring inflation and fiscal deficits. Rooting out payroll fraud is seen as essential to restoring fiscal discipline and rebuilding trust.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive over alleged involvement in five corruption-related transactions. Ofori-Atta, who has not commented on the accusations, faces further scrutiny as Mahama intensifies efforts to tackle high-level graft.
The crackdown underscores the administration’s focus on rebuilding public confidence in governance, with observers noting that addressing corruption in state agencies like the National Service Authority is a critical step toward economic recovery.
