By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The National Service Authority (NSA) has recorded a dramatic fiscal consolidation, pruning its annual payroll from approximately GH¢1.6 billion to GH¢700 million following the rollout of stringent verification protocols designed to excise irregularities and safeguard public funds.
Deputy Director-General of the NSA, Lieutenant Colonel Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, disclosed that the Authority has overhauled its disbursement architecture to ensure allowances are extended exclusively to duly authenticated personnel.
He explained that the reengineered system was calibrated to eradicate improper payments, particularly those attributable to ghost names, by mandating exacting checks prior to any disbursement.
According to Lt. Col. Kpeungu, the substantial savings were realized not through a reduction in national service deployments, but by imposing watertight controls on the processing of monthly allowances.
He noted that under the recalibrated regime, every national service person must undergo a monthly evaluation, which must be duly endorsed by a supervisor at their place of posting before payment is approved.
The Deputy Director-General emphasized that the reforms epitomize the NSA’s renewed dedication to fiscal discipline and value for money.
“Previously, the payroll of the government was about 1.5 to 1.6 billion every year. As of last year, we paid barely about GH¢700 million,” he said in an interview with Joy FM.
The disclosure comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal proceedings involving former NSA Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy Gifty Oware-Mensah over allegations of ghost names on the Authority’s payroll.
The alleged scheme involves 9,934 non-existent national service personnel, with prosecutors indicating that the infractions may have caused the state losses exceeding GH¢38 million.
Lt. Col. Kpeungu further revealed that the Authority has liquidated most arrears owed to service personnel, with only one month , March outstanding, adding that processes are underway to settle the remaining payments.