NSA Rejects “Ghost” Payroll Allegations

We have been alerted to a Fourth Estate media outlet that has made a number of accusations against former National Service Authority officers.

The article contains numerous errors about the National Service Authority’s enrolment, verification, and payment procedures in addition to selected information omissions intended to produce fabricated findings that accuse previous officers of misconduct.

Here is how we address the different claims:

1. The article asserts that the numbers that are publicly available and those that are presented to parliament for budgetary purposes differ greatly.

Our investigation shows that the allegation is obviously false because the Fourth Estate only uses data from the September general posting, which omits two (2) cohorts of nursing trainees and one (1) cohort of teacher trainees.

It should be mentioned that the NSA, in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, conducts an enrolment cycle for nurses in addition to the Authority’s general cycle. The Teachers Council and the NSA also conduct an enrolment cycle for teachers.

2. In addition to the Authority’s general enrolment cycle, the NSA and the Nursing and Midwifery Council jointly conduct an enrolment cycle for nurses, and the Teachers Council and the NSA jointly conduct an enrolment cycle for teachers.

The data’ discrepancies are thus explained by these additional enrolment periods. As a result, the Fourth Estate’s assertion lacks any foundation, which they would have known if they had been diligent in their alleged research.

3. The aforementioned discrepancy is used by the Fourth Estate to argue that the NSA payroll has been inflated with “Ghosts” as funds allotted by Parliament surpass confirmed posts.

To be clear, the total number of employees posted by the Authority is the basis for the personnel list that is submitted to parliament for financial considerations. Not everyone who is posted, however, actually ends up on the payroll for a variety of reasons, such as not showing up for the service or failing verification.

4. As a result, the payroll is only authorized after undergoing rigorous verification procedures, and employee payments are made via the GhiPPS System, a subsidiary of the Bank of Ghana. Payment is only issued after monthly validations verify that employees are at their assigned postings, even in that case.

Following GhiPPS’s payments, any remaining funds are placed in the Authority’s account for future use.

Therefore, it is untrue for the Fourth Estate to claim that some “ghosts” are receiving compensation just because the amount of money allotted by parliament exceeds confirmed postings.

5. The Fourth Estate further asserts that the NSA system is rife with individuals who are too old, have foreign-looking photos, and have incorrect identification.

The Fourth Estate comes to the conclusion that these are ghosts that are getting paid by the NSA based on these. This is a blatant misunderstanding of the NSA’s enrolment, verification, and payment processes. Without any assistance from the Authority, educational institutions supply preliminary information about those who qualify for national service. Additionally, private individuals have the right to register with the Authority for national service.

6. Since there is no alternative data to cross-reference such entering data with and dishonest people constantly try to circumvent the Authority’s system every registration cycle, such data is frequently riddled with a number of inaccuracies, including the kind the Fourth Estate describes.

But all employees must go through the regional verification process in person, where they must present identification cards, fingerprint and facial biometric information, and other forms of identification. Employees that provide conflicting information are either banned or placed on hold until their information is verified. This information is compared to the original data that was submitted.

7. Personnel that fail verification are still listed in the system as prohibited, on hold, or pending, but they are no longer eligible for payment and are therefore not deducted from the payroll.

The majority of rejections occur at this juncture, and in actuality, the Fourth Estate’s numerous photos, accusations of foreign nationals, and placeholder images fall under this type of dishonest attempts to circumvent the NSA System.

8. Given the Fourth Estate’s reputation as a media outlet, it is shocking that they would rely on these entry data without asking GhiPPS (the paying entity) how many employees are actually paid annually or whether any of these individuals with such contradictory information were actually given NSA allowances.

9. This exposes the Fourth Estate’s alleged investigation’s malevolent aim, as it was purposefully designed to quickly publish a dramatic story to disparage previous police rather than carefully establishing the facts as one might expect from a respectable journalistic outlet.

10. To lessen the likelihood of dishonest attempts to go around the system, we pledged to establish strong enrolment and verification procedures throughout our time there.

Creating a shared site and assigning institutions distinct access codes to submit their registration data was one of these crucial technologies, which decreased the possibility of manipulation at the point of entrance.

Because it is a clear illustration of how a misinterpretation of data and institutional procedures can lead to conclusions that misinform and mislead the public, the Fourth Estate publication must be viewed with the disdain it merits.

To prevent publishing sensational articles that unjustly defame people, we implore journalists to uphold their values and do their jobs thoroughly.

Finally, we applaud President Mahama’s order for an investigation because we are confident it will show that the actual situation regarding the issues reported differs from the Fourth Estate’s fabricated claims.

Many thanks,

SIGNED
1. Osei Assibey Antwi
Former Director-General
National Service Authority
2. Hon. Mustapha Ussif
Former Executive Director
National Service