Mahama orders immediate suspension of National Service postings platform over integrity concerns

The Central Management System (CMS) used by the National Service Authority (NSA) to manage postings has been suspended with immediate effect following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment announced the suspension on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, stating that the move is in the national interest and necessary to allow for a thorough technical and forensic assessment of the platform.

“The attention has been drawn to emerging concerns surrounding the digital infrastructure currently in use at the National Service Authority (NSA), specifically the Central Management System (CMS) for postings. Following the directive from the Office of the President, the use of the CMS has been suspended with immediate effect,” the Ministry’s statement read.

This decision follows mounting scrutiny over the credibility of the system, especially in light of ongoing investigations into widespread corruption at the NSA.

To prevent disruption, the Ministry assured National Service Personnel and stakeholders that interim measures are being reviewed and implemented. “We urge all National Service Persons and the general public to remain calm and cooperative with the relevant institutions to undertake the necessary actions to safeguard the integrity of the National Service Authority,” the statement added.

Alternative posting and verification processes are being considered to maintain operational continuity while upholding transparency and accountability.

The suspension of the CMS comes on the heels of a major corruption scandal within the NSA, where a criminal scheme involving 'ghost names' reportedly siphoned off GHC548 million from state coffers.

The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, recently confirmed that former NSA heads Mustapha Ussif, Osei Assibey Antwi, and former Deputy Director Gifty Oware-Mensah have all been implicated and would soon face prosecution.

The government has vowed to clean up the system and restore confidence in the national service scheme. Further updates are expected in the coming days as investigations continue.