NSA scandal: President Mahama orders manhunt for NSA Suspects

President John Mahama has revealed that some suspects involved in the National Service Authority (NSA) financial scandal have absconded.

Speaking during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in his second term, Mahama revealed that some individuals implicated in the scandal have gone into hiding, prompting him to direct security agencies to declare them wanted.

"As part of our 'Recover All the Loot' policy, I have already tasked our investigative bodies to bring the culprits to justice. Such blatant theft of public funds must not go unpunished," Mahama stated.

Fraudulent payment

The probe centres around a headcount of active National Service Personnel, which allegedly exposed 81,885 fraudulent entries.

If undetected, the scheme would have cost the state over GH¢50 million in fraudulent payments every month.

"I have ordered that those who have fled be declared wanted and their assets be traced and frozen until investigations are completed," he added.

The President emphasised that those responsible for the scandal must be held accountable, as the looting of state resources with impunity will not be tolerated.

"Such brazen stealing of state resources should not go unpunished," he stressed, vowing that his government “will ensure justice is served”.

Mahama assured Ghanaians that his administration remains committed to fighting corruption and strengthening institutions to prevent financial mismanagement.

He noted that efforts are already underway to track down the absconded suspects and bring them before the law.

“The discrepancies were identified after a headcount initiated by the Minister for Finance as a prerequisite for clearing allowance arrears dating back to August 2024”.

The President has urged all relevant authorities to cooperate in retrieving stolen funds and preventing similar occurrences in the future.

He assured the nation that his government would not tolerate corruption, promising strict enforcement of laws to protect public resources.

In addition to the manhunt, Mahama has directed the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to conduct an immediate probe into the operations of the NSA.

The new management of the NSA has also been tasked with implementing urgent reforms to establish adequate controls and prevent the recurrence of ghost names on the payroll.