75,000 Ghost names removed From NSS payroll, saving GH¢26.5m

Control measures activated by the new management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) Secretariat have prevented about 75,000 ghost names from entering the services payroll in the 2014/2015 service year.

The internal mechanism has saved the nation GH¢ 26.5 million which otherwise would have gone into illegal pockets.

Traditionally, names on the National Service payroll go up every year.

But, the 2013/2014 figure of 184,965 dropped to 89,612 in the current service year.

The acting Executive Director of the NSS, Dr Micheal Kpessa-Whyte said one could deduce from the development that a lot of rot had characterised the system.

He said President Mahama has given his full backing to the process to weed out the rot at NSS.

In line with the control measures instituted by the new management, the allowance of service personnel can be processed only on the completion of a monthly reporting form that must be duly signed by the service person and his or her superior officer.

The reporting form was introduced to eliminate the phenomenon of ghost names in the scheme.

The scheme has also brought on board a chief internal auditor and a chief accountant on secondment to strengthen the accounting and auditing process. 

Daily Graphic