National Service Scheme Mandates Ghana Card to Eliminate Ghost Names from Payroll

 

National Service Scheme Enforces Ghana Card Requirement to Curb Payroll Fraud.

The National Service Authority (NSA) has rolled out a new initiative to combat payroll fraud by mandating that all prospective national service personnel possess a valid Ghana Card and hold a degree from a Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC)-approved institution.

Acting Director General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, emphasized that the use of the Ghana Card is now compulsory for anyone intending to undertake national service. 

He described it as a vital tool for eliminating ghost names and ensuring that only eligible individuals are enrolled. Speaking on Joy FM's GhanaConnect, Mr. Gyamfi said, “If you don’t have a Ghana Card, you cannot do national service. It is an essential identification tool to verify the true identity of every applicant.”

This development comes after President John Mahama ordered the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to probe the operations of the NSA, following the discovery of over 81,000 suspected ghost names on its payroll. 

The investigation was triggered by discrepancies uncovered by the Finance Ministry during a headcount exercise tied to unpaid allowances from August 2024.

Beyond the Ghana Card requirement, the NSA is also barring graduates from institutions not properly accredited by GTEC. 

Mr. Gyamfi noted that these schools often lack credibility and must be excluded from the scheme.

Additional measures announced include

1. Biometric verification: Service personnel will undergo monthly biometric checks at NSA offices before being paid.

2. Age and registration rules: Anyone exceeding the service age or bypassing registration procedures will be disqualified.

3. Physical verification: No individual will be added to the payroll without in-person validation by NSA officers.

According to Mr. Gyamfi, these rules are not entirely new but had previously been neglected due to weak enforcement and leadership failures. The NSA now aims to implement them rigorously to restore integrity to the scheme.

By implementing these measures, the NSA hopes to eliminate payroll fraud and ensure that national service personnel are genuine and committed to serving their country.



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