National Service Scandal: Mahama Orders Arrest and Asset Freeze of Culprits.
In a bold move to tackle corruption, President John Dramani Mahama has directed that all individuals involved in the National Service Scheme (NSS) payroll scandal be declared wanted and their assets frozen. This directive, he emphasized, is part of his administration’s commitment to hold public officials accountable for their actions.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament on Thursday, February 27, 2025, President Mahama said, “I have directed that culprits be declared wanted and their assets frozen.
The President’s directive follows a series of high-profile arrests linked to the ghost names payroll scandal at the National Service Authority (NSA)—a scheme where fictitious names were added to the payroll, causing substantial financial losses to the state.
Over the weekend, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) detained Yaw Danso, an Accountant at the NSA, for his alleged involvement in the fraudulent scheme.
His arrest follows that of Kwaku Ohene Gyan, the former Deputy Director of Operations at the NSA, who was taken into custody on February 22, 2025. Investigators believe both individuals played key roles in facilitating the ghost names that siphoned public funds.
Meanwhile, Gifty Oware-Mensah, the former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, is reportedly on the run, with authorities intensifying their search for her and other suspects connected to the scandal.
According to sources from 3news, the ghost names payroll scheme has caused significant financial losses to the nation. Investigations have revealed the involvement of several high-ranking officials, and more arrests are expected as the inquiry deepens.
Currently, Yaw Danso is being held at the NIB offices, where investigators are questioning him about his role and seeking further leads to unravel the full extent of the fraudulent scheme.
President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption and promised to hold all responsible parties accountable.
“We will not allow public officeholders to exploit the system for personal gain. Every pesewa stolen from the state must be accounted for,” he stressed during his address.
The President’s decisive action sends a clear message that corruption and financial mismanagement will not be tolerated under his watch, and those found culpable will face the full force of the law.
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