Let’s expunge ‘ghost’ names from our payrolls

The National Service Authority (NSA) has been an integral part of Ghana's development since its inception in 1973.

The scheme's primary objective is to promote national unity, combat hunger, illiteracy, disease, unemployment and develop skilled manpower through practical training.

However, the recent revelation of ghost service personnel on the NSA payroll has cast a shadow on the scheme's effectiveness and integrity.

The NSA was established to help with the country’s human resource development during the regime of a former Head of State, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.

At its establishment, the focus was to send graduates to rural areas in the country to serve in the health and educational sectors where more hands were needed due to a shortage of professionals. 

The Scheme is governed by Act 426 (of 1980), which states that the National Service programme is a compulsory one-year service required of all citizens of Ghana who are 18 years and above.

Over the years, the NSA has undergone significant transformations, with the introduction of the NSA Metric App being a notable milestone.

The app, launched in the 2021/2022 service year, has streamlined the registration process, eradicated queues and saved the country millions of cedis by removing over 14,000 ghost names from the payment system.

This achievement demonstrates the potential for technology to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the NSA.

Despite this progress, the presence of ghost personnel on the NSS payroll remains a pressing concern.

Local investigative reporters have uncovered evidence of ghost personnel, prompting President John Mahama to direct the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to investigate the matter.

This development is disheartening, as it suggests that the NSA is still grappling with the issue of ghost personnel despite efforts to reform the system.

To address this issue, it is essential to conduct thorough audits of service personnel for each year.

This will help identify and expunge ghost personnel from the payroll.

Furthermore, the NSA must implement robust verification and validation systems to ensure that only legitimate personnel are on the payroll.

This can be achieved through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that will detect and prevent impersonation.

In addition to these measures, it is crucial to establish functional institutions with adequate checks and balances to prevent lapses, gaps and failures.

This will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, civil society organisations and the general public.

By working together, we can create a transparent and accountable system that promotes the integrity of the NSA.

Some have suggested engaging external IT service personnel to enhance registration systems and prevent impersonation.

While this may be a viable option, it is essential to ensure that any external support is carefully vetted and monitored to prevent potential security breaches.

The issue of ghost personnel on the NSA payroll is not only a financial concern but also a matter of national security. It is imperative that we take decisive action to address this issue and restore the integrity of the NSA.

We should ensure that the scheme continues to play a vital role in promoting national unity and development.

The presence of ghost personnel on the NSA payroll is an indictment on duty bearers and requires immediate attention. 

The Daily Graphic suggests that the government immediately conducts thorough audits, implements robust verification and validation systems, and establish functional institutions with adequate checks and balances to address this issue and restore the integrity of the NSA.

It is time for Ghana to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability by tackling the issue of ghost personnel once and for all.