Investigative journalist Kwaku Krobea Asante of The Fourth Estate has revealed the officials who oversaw the National Service Authority (NSA) during former President Akufo-Addo’s tenure when the ghost names scandal began.
The revelations stem from an investigative report published by The Fourth Estate in November 2024.
During an appearance on Channel One TV, Asante named Henry Nana Boakye, Osei Assibey Antwi, Mustapha Ussif, Gifty Oware, and Kwaku Ohene Djan as the officials in charge of the NSA during the period when fraudulent payments occurred.
However, he clarified that the report does not directly accuse these former NSA officials of embezzlement.
Instead, it highlights their responsibility in overseeing the scheme during the time of the irregularities.
“The period we focused our investigations on, you have Henry Nana Boakye – Nana B, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, the former Sports Minister, the immediate past Director General, Osei Assibey Antwi, Gifty Oware Mensah, who was also a deputy director, and Kwaku Ohene Djan, who was also a deputy director for the NSA,” Asante said.
“Our point is not necessarily to say that these people have stolen money, but that they were in charge of the scheme,” he added.
Asante’s disclosure follows a directive from President John Dramani Mahama for an investigation into 81,885 suspected ghost names found on the NSA payroll.
Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, explained that these irregularities were uncovered during a headcount of active national service personnel.
The audit, initiated at the request of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is part of efforts to clear outstanding allowance arrears dating back to August 2024.