Massive Fraud in Ghana’s National Service Scheme Costs Country $142 Million Annually
Mussa Dankwa, the Executive Director of Global InfoAnalytics, has raised concerns over large-scale financial fraud within Ghana’s National Service Scheme (NSS), estimating that the country loses a staggering $142 million each year due to corrupt activities. This revelation has sparked public outrage, with many Ghanaians demanding urgent investigations and accountability from government authorities.
According to Dankwa, the estimated annual loss of $142 million due to fraudulent activities within the NSS is nearly equal to the financial support Ghana receives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its health sector.
In a Facebook post, he questioned the effectiveness of the Ghana Card, which was introduced to improve transparency in government payroll systems. He wrote:
“Potential annual loss of $142 million is the NSS fraud. Nearly the same amount as the USAID to the health sector. How was the Ghana Card deployed to detect this fraud?”
This revelation raises serious concerns about accountability and financial management within government institutions.
Beyond the NSS fraud, Dankwa pointed out how corruption is crippling Ghana’s economy and affecting vital sectors. He suggested that the money lost in just two years from the fraudulent scheme could have been used to settle Ghana’s debt to Karpower, one of the country’s major power suppliers.
“Two years’ loss could settle Karpower indebtedness,” he stated, drawing attention to how financial mismanagement contributes to the ongoing energy crisis.
Dankwa emphasized that corruption is not just about missing money—it has real-life consequences that affect the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. He stressed the urgency of addressing financial misconduct, warning:
“Corruption kills. It is the simplest way to tell Ghanaians the effect of corruption.”
To tackle the issue, he called on the Ministry of Finance to conduct a nationwide audit of all payrolls before the end of the year. He demanded transparency regarding how such huge sums were withdrawn and who was behind the fraudulent activities.
“The Ministry of Finance has to audit all payrolls before the end of the year. How were the monies withdrawn and by who?” he questioned.
Dankwa’s revelations have ignited strong reactions from the public, with many citizens expressing frustration over the continued financial losses due to corruption. The calls for accountability are growing louder, and many are urging the government to take swift action to address what could be one of the biggest financial scandals in Ghana’s recent history.
As pressure mounts, it remains to be seen whether authorities will launch thorough investigations and implement stronger measures to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future.