Key points
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Babies and elderly were wrongly listed on NSA payroll.
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Payroll audit shows deep flaws in national service system.
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Service postings delayed as reforms begin.
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An audit of the National Service Authority (NSA) uncovered shocking payroll fraud. Officials discovered over 1,000 babies, some under a year old, listed as active workers. They also found nearly 3,000 people above 80 years old receiving monthly allowances, even though the exit age for service is 40.
“If the system worked well, we would not have found babies on our payroll,” an NSA official said.
The revelations highlight deep cracks in the payroll system, known as the Central Management System (CMS).
Service postings delayed after system shutdown
The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment suspended the payroll system on June 18, 2025, after the audit findings. President John Dramani Mahama ordered the shutdown to prevent further abuse.
As a result, this year’s national service postings stalled. Thousands of graduates still wait to be deployed.
“How did people above 40 years end up on the payroll?” one official asked, pointing to glaring loopholes in the system.
NSA promises new system by November
Acting Executive Director of the NSA, Ruth Seddoh, said reforms are underway.
“We already have a transition team in place, and a new framework is being built,” Seddoh said. “By November 1, postings will resume.”
The audit stirred new fears about corruption in the agency. Meanwhile, graduates say they feel stranded while waiting for reforms to take effect.
