GH¢548m NSA scandal: “I’m ready to account for my stewardship” — Mustapha Ussif breaks silence

Member of Parliament for Yagaba-Kubori and former Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Mustapha Ussif, has forcefully rejected any link to the GH¢548 million payroll fraud scandal that has rocked the National Service Authority (NSA).

In a firm statement released on Friday, June 13, Ussif acknowledged the Attorney General's recent announcement regarding pending prosecutions but maintained that his tenure at the Scheme—from February 2017 to January 2021—was marked by integrity and professionalism.

“It is my fervent belief that once you hold public office, you should at all material times, and at whatever cost, be ready, willing, and able to account for your stewardship,” Ussif declared. “Therefore, I wish to state that I am ready, willing, and able to account for my stewardship at the National Service Scheme.”

He further indicated his readiness to appear in court if necessary and called on his constituents and supporters to remain calm as events unfold.

Ussif’s comments come in response to Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine’s revelation that twelve former NSA officials are set to be prosecuted over their alleged involvement in a vast corruption network that siphoned hundreds of millions of cedis from the state through payroll manipulation.

At a press conference earlier that day, Dr. Ayine said the investigations had uncovered what he described as “a well-organised network of corruption” that exploited loopholes within the Scheme’s internal systems. He confirmed that charges are being finalised.

Among those cited for prosecution are:

• Mustapha Ussif – Former Executive Director

• Osei Assibey Antwi – Former Director-General

• Gifty Oware-Mensah – Former Deputy Executive Director

• Kweku Ohene Gyan – Former Deputy Executive Director for Operations

• Abraham Bismark Gaisie – Former Head of Deployment

• Eric Nyarko – Former Head of Accounts

• Albert Oteng Owusu – Former Internal Auditor

• Kweku Dekyi Agyei – Accounts Officer

• Iddrisu Ibn Abu-Bakr – Former Head of Accounts

• Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi – Koforidua Municipal Director

• Prince Agbofa Awuku – District Director

• Jacob Yawson – MIS Administrator, Northern Regional Office

The scandal reportedly involves years of systemic fraud—ghost names, duplicated postings, and falsified deployment records—across multiple districts, bleeding the state of vital funds earmarked for national service operations.

Although no formal charges have yet been filed, calls from civil society groups for accountability continue to grow louder, placing pressure on government prosecutors to ensure that the impending legal proceedings are transparent and free of political interference.