More than 63,000 ghost names received National Service allowances in 2023 and 2024 service years

A forensic analysis of the National Service Authority’s Central Management System (CMS) has revealed that 63,673 fictitious names received allowances for work not done during the 2023 and 2024 service years.

Detective Sergeant Collins Woode, the lead investigator and fourth prosecution witness in the case involving Mrs Gifty Oware-Mensah, a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, disclosed this during his evidence-in-chief on Thursday.

He said investigations established that the names, described as ghost names, were captured in the Authority’s CMS and received monthly allowances despite the individuals not having performed any national service.

The witness presented and explained several Excel spreadsheets and other electronic files containing findings from the forensic examination of the system.

The evidence was projected onto a screen in open court to enable the court to examine the documents and the findings.

Detective Sergeant Woode told the court that investigations had established that the identification details of the individuals submitted by the accused for monthly allowance payments were fictitious.

His witness statement, together with the attached exhibits, was admitted by the court as his evidence-in-chief.

Mr Gary Nimako Marfo, counsel for the accused, began cross-examining the witness and asked four questions before proceedings ended for the day.

The court scheduled an extended sitting for the day to continue the cross-examination.

Detective Sergeant Woode is the fourth and final prosecution witness in the case.

The prosecution is expected to close its case after the completion of his cross-examination.

GNA