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Former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has returned to Ghana amid an ongoing investigation into an alleged payroll scandal involving ghost names and the misappropriation of millions of cedis. Oware-Mensah, who arrived at Kotoka International Airport today, was not arrested upon her return but is expected to report to the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) with her lawyers to answer questions related to the scandal.
Speaking to the press at the airport, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticized the NIB’s initial plan to arrest Oware-Mensah, describing it as an unnecessary “Rambo-style” approach. “Sometimes this ‘Rambo-style’ approach doesn’t help. If you want to invite someone, you can do so. The person is a public official, so there should be no problem,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin added, “If the person arrives with a lawyer or states that they do not need one, and is willing to answer questions, and if bail is necessary, arrangements can be made. I think that is what is required by the law.”
The NIB is investigating allegations that thousands of ghost names were used to defraud the state of millions of cedis in allowances during Oware-Mensah’s tenure at the NSS. The government has uncovered a significant discrepancy in the National Service payroll, revealing 81,885 suspected ghost names. This figure represents the difference between the actual number of active personnel (98,145) and the 180,030 names submitted for allowance payment in 2024.
The alleged payroll fraud is reported to have cost the state approximately GHȼ50 million each month. As the Deputy Executive Director responsible for administration and finance, Oware-Mensah is expected to be a key witness in the ongoing investigations.
The scandal has prompted the government to initiate extradition processes to bring back key suspects who fled the country to evade justice. Over the weekend, the NIB detained and questioned Kwaku Ohene Djan, another former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, in connection with the allegations.
As Oware-Mensah prepares to cooperate with the NIB, the investigation into the NSS scandal continues to unfold, with stakeholders calling for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
