The National Service Authority (NSA) has reduced its annual payroll from about GH₵1.6 billion to roughly GH₵700 million following major reforms aimed at eliminating ghost names from its system.
Deputy Director General of Operations, Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, disclosed the figures in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, describing the development as a significant milestone in improving transparency and accountability.
“Previously, the payroll of the government was about 1.5 to 1.6 billion every year. As of last year, we paid barely about 700 million Ghanaian cedis,” he stated.
Stronger verification systems
Lt. Col. Kpeungu explained that the sharp reduction was not due to a decrease in the number of personnel, but rather the result of stricter verification processes introduced across the system.
Under the new structure, monthly allowances go through multiple layers of checks before approval. Each service person’s evaluation must be endorsed by a supervisor, verified at the district level, reviewed by an internal auditor, cleared by a regional director, and finally reconciled at the NSA head office.
Payments are then processed through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department.
He noted that although the process is rigorous, it is fully digital and has not caused significant delays.
Nearly 100,000 personnel on scheme
The NSA currently has about 99,500 service personnel deployed nationwide, with monthly allowance payments estimated at GH₵50 million—amounting to roughly GH₵600 million annually.
Despite the scale of operations, the Authority says it is only in arrears by one month (March), a situation officials describe as manageable.
Boosting accountability
The reforms are part of broader efforts to improve efficiency within the public sector and ensure that government funds are directed to legitimate beneficiaries.
The NSA maintains that tightening its systems will continue to safeguard public resources while sustaining support for national service personnel across the country.
