The National Service Authority (NSA) has uncovered a major payroll fraud operation in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

Two senior officers—the District Manager and the MIS Manager—have confessed to their roles and were interdicted. They created a system that illegally paid allowances to individuals who didn’t qualify for national service.

NSA Director-General Felix Gyamfi called it a betrayal of public trust. “This isn’t just a disciplinary case,” he said. “It violates the National Service Act and strikes at the heart of public service integrity.”

The officers manipulated records to enroll and pay 29 ineligible individuals in the current 2024/2025 year. They did the same for 49 others in the 2023/2024 period. Many of these people were already employed or on study leave with pay.

“These people had jobs or were receiving salaries. Yet they collected national service allowances too,” the NSA explained.

This incident reflects a wider payroll fraud investigation. The NSA found similar misconduct across various sectors. Some public workers—teachers, nurses, midwives, and customs officers—falsified records to appear as national service personnel.

“They’re earning full salaries but still taking allowances. It’s a clear abuse of public funds,” the NSA stated.

The Authority stressed that employed or study-leave personnel are not eligible for national service pay. Still, some collude with NSA staff to change their status and receive payments illegally.

“This is theft. It’s unlawful enrichment, and we will not tolerate it,” Gyamfi said.

Citing Section 12 of the Public Services Commission Act, 1994 (Act 482), he warned that the law will deal with all offenders.

To prevent future fraud, the NSA has introduced a new verification process. It will match national service data with records from the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. This will help catch false identities and double salaries.

The NSA has also issued a deadline. Anyone involved must stop submitting allowance forms and report to their regional NSA office by May 23, 2025, to correct their records.

“This is your final warning,” the statement read. “Our intelligence teams and whistleblowers have monitored this for months. We’re closing in.”

The NSA concluded by reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy. Offending staff will be dismissed. Public servants found guilty will face prosecution and permanent bans from government work.