A report by a non-profit investigative body, The Fourth Estate, has alleged that the former Director-General (D-G) of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, was listed as a volunteer within the NSA while at post.According to the report by the former Director-General of the NSA was enlisted with the  2022/2023 service year batch, which is a year after assuming the D-G position.

Osei Assibey Antwi was assigned an EZWICH card with the number 1177042059 and posted to the Greater Accra region as a volunteer.

However, The Fourth Estate has reported that an Auditor-General’s investigation traced the former Director-General, listed as an NSA volunteer, to his company Kumawu Farms in the Ashanti Region where he was paid GH¢516,000 every month for 16 months, amounting to GH¢8,256,000 in total.

This revelation aligns with an earlier statement by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, while providing an update on the investigations by Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) into financial irregularities within the Authority on Friday, June 13.

“In the 2022/2023 service year, a total of eight million, two hundred and fifty-six thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢8,256,000.00) was deposited into EZWICH account number 1177042059, which is registered in the name of suspect Osei Assibey. Investigations showed that he personally received these funds,” Dr Ayine said.

The alleged irregularities at the Service are being probed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). In July, Dr. Dominic Ayine, revealed that eight individuals, including three former officers of the National Service Authority (NSA), have admitted to their involvement in the misappropriation of funds at the National Service Scheme (NSS).

Providing an update on the case as part of the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 28, Dr. Ayine disclosed that eight individuals want to plead guilty in exchange for lighter punishment in this regard.

He explained that the office intended to file formal charges last week; however, it has been postponed following new revelations regarding the ongoing case.

The new evidence, he noted, is tied to a Bank of Ghana account linked to former NSA Director-General, Mr. Osei Assibey, suggesting potential embezzlement involving public funds.

According to him, a total of GH¢189 million was deposited into the account of Mr. Osei Assibey; however, GH¢80 million can not be accounted for.

Furthermore, nearly GH¢2 million was allegedly withdrawn using two cheques that carried Mr. Assibey’s name and account information.

The A-G has stated that the office has reached out to the Bank of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance, and the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department for further information and documentation.The National Service Authority scandal case was due to be filed last week.

“However, we stumbled upon evidence of malfeasance involving an account at the Bank of Ghana.Out of the GH¢189 million transferred, GH¢80 million cannot be traced. Two cheques linked to the former Director-General were used to withdraw just under GH¢2 million,” Dr. Ayine stated.

He added that some of the accused have shown readiness to provide testimony against their fellow accused, with several vendors and service providers also reportedly willing to support the prosecution as witnesses.

Earlier this year, a non-profit investigative body, The Fourth Estate, released a report into the payroll records from 2017 to 2023 and the 2024 National Service Year.

The finding revealed serious irregularities within the NSA, uncovering how a 72-year-old Kenyan, Kwame Donkor, was wrongly listed as a beneficiary. Mr Donkor was enlisted on the payroll with a photo and not an official ID card, which is unusual.

However, the photo belonged to Emmanuel Mutio, a Human Resource Manager at a private IT company in Kenya. The 72-year-old Kenyan had his name appear on the payroll 226 times as a registered beneficiary.

The Fourth Estate initially uncovered the issue in November 2024, but the NSA obtained a court order preventing them from publishing the findings. After the court lifted the injunction, the report was finally released. In response, President John Dramani Mahama ordered a probe into the matter.

The NIB, upon the President's directive, interrogated the former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, and Kwaku Ohene Djan, who is also a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority.

The payroll fraud reportedly cost Ghana GHȼ50 million monthly. In May, the Authority interdicted two of its officials in the Brim North District, Eastern Region.

During a press briefing on Monday, March 24, the AG provided an update on the progress of the investigations, revealing significant findings, particularly regarding financial irregularities within the National Service Scheme.

He disclosed that investigators had gathered substantial evidence pointing to corruption and financial mismanagement within the scheme.

"I can confirm that investigation will conclude in the National Service and Sky Train scandals by the middle of April for prosecutions to proceed," he said during a briefing.

Dr. Ayine further indicated that authorities had traced suspicious financial transactions involving senior officials.

"In the National Service scandal, eight suspects have been interrogated, and a good number of them have started 'singing' literally. We will give you details of their songs at the appropriate time," he stated.

Also in June, the office of the A-G revealed that a whopping GHC548,333,542.65 was lost to the criminal enterprise perpetrated by executives, directors, and staff at NSA.

Providing a breakdown during a press briefing today, June 13, the A-G stated that “In the 2022/2023 service year, 350,926,977.12 was lost to the state. For the 2023/2024 service year, 32,881,157.07 was lost to the republic."

He further added, “The criminal enterprise that resulted in the loss of this colossal loss of sum of money involved the creation of ghost names in the NSA payroll system by some directors and staff, which was subsequently exploited to misappropriate state funds for their gain."

Former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has been named as one of the suspects who will be charged and prosecuted.

In May, two NSA officials in the Brim North District, Eastern Region, were interdicted by the Authority. An official release by the NSA on Wednesday, May 14, found the culprits guilty of their involvement in a "well-orchestrated act of systemic fraud" within the area.

The NSA explained that the culprits falsified records to approve and process monthly allowances for 78 personnel: at least 29 in the 2024/2025 service year and 49 in the 2023/2024 service year. The Authority has noted that the suspension of the district manager and the MIS manager remains in effect pending the outcome of investigations.

“The Management of the National Service Authority (NSA), through a collaboration with a whistleblower, has uncovered a well-orchestrated act of systemic fraud involving the District Manager and the MIS Manager in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region.

"During a meeting convened this morning, both individuals were presented with substantial evidence of their misconduct. In further discussions the two officers admitted to their direct involvement in the fraudulent activity. As a result, the Management of the Authority has interdicted the two officers, pending further investigations," parts of the release read.

The Attorney-General has pledged to uphold justice by ensuring that all individuals involved are held accountable and made to answer before the law.