The National Service Authority (NSA) has decreased its annual payroll from approximately GH¢1.6 billion to GH¢700 million due to the implementation of more stringent verification systems.
Lieutenant Colonel Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, the Deputy Director-General of the NSA, revealed that the Authority has enhanced its payment procedures to guarantee that only properly verified personnel receive their allowances.
He elaborated that the new system aims to eradicate irregular payments, especially those associated with fictitious names, by instituting stricter checks prior to the disbursement of funds.
According to Lt. Col. Kpeungu, the substantial savings were not a result of a reduction in the number of service personnel deployed nationwide but rather from tightening the controls surrounding the processing of monthly allowances.
He mentioned that under the updated regime, every national service individual is required to undergo a monthly assessment, which must be officially approved by a supervisor at their assigned location before payment can be authorised.
The Deputy Director-General emphasised that these measures demonstrate the NSA’s renewed dedication to fiscal responsibility and ensuring value for money.
“Previously, the payroll of the government was about 1.5 to 1.6 billion every year. As of last year, we paid barely about GH¢700 million,” he stated.
This development arises amidst ongoing legal proceedings involving former NSA Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy, Gifty Oware-Mensah, concerning allegations of fictitious names on the Authority’s payroll.
The alleged scheme involves 9,934 non-existent national service personnel, with prosecutors suggesting that the violations may have resulted in state losses exceeding GH¢38 million.
Lt Col. Kpeungu additionally disclosed that the Authority has settled most of the arrears owed to service personnel, with only one month, March, remaining, and noted that efforts are in progress to finalise the outstanding payments.
