National Service Ghost Names probe: President Mahama orders arrest, asset freeze of suspects

President John Dramani Mahama has directed security agencies to declare wanted all suspects implicated in the alleged National Service ghost names probe, following allegations that over 80,000 fictitious names were fraudulently added to the scheme’s payroll.

He has also ordered the relevant agencies to freeze the assets of those involved. Speaking during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Thursday, February 27, Mahama described the scandal as an "audacious act of corruption" and called for an immediate crackdown on those responsible.

"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.

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 further directed the new management of the National Service Authority to implement urgent reforms to prevent similar fraudulent activities in the future.

As part of efforts to sanitise the National Service Scheme, Mahama tasked the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment to draft a legislative instrument to support the newly passed National Service Authorities Act, 2024 (Act 1119).

Additionally, he announced the introduction of a short military training programme for national service personnel, aimed at instilling discipline and physical fitness among the youth.

"We want our young people to develop a strong sense of discipline, resilience, and national service, and this military training component will help achieve that," he explained.

Tackling corruption in scholarship awards

Mahama also turned his attention to irregularities in Ghana’s scholarship scheme, lamenting that underprivileged students are often sidelined by the wealthy elite.

"The poor who genuinely need scholarships are unable to access them because the wealthy always crowd them out. Our government is committed to promoting transparency, equity, and sustainability in the scholarship scheme," he noted.

To ensure fairness, Mahama announced that the government would streamline the scholarship award process and publish the list of beneficiaries annually.

New job creation programme for the youth

In response to Ghana’s unemployment challenges, Mahama unveiled the "Ejumawura Programme," a job creation initiative focused on nurturing young businesses.

“This initiative will create, track, and mentor young businesses annually, with a special focus on youth entrepreneurship,” he stated.

The programme is expected to provide financial and technical support to young entrepreneurs, equipping them with the necessary skills to build sustainable businesses.