Saturday, 14 June

GHS 548,333,542 gov't money stolen in National Service scandal: A-G reveals

Politics
Dr Dominic Ayine

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has provided an official update on the unfolding National Service Secretariat (NSS) scandal, as part of the government’s broader anti-corruption initiative dubbed “Operation Recover All Loot.”

At a press briefing held in Accra, Dr. Ayine reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to accountability and transparency, particularly in the management of public funds.

He revealed that a comprehensive investigation is underway into allegations of financial misappropriation and administrative irregularities at the National Service Secretariat.

According to the Attorney General, the scandal involves “significant sums of public funds” believed to have been siphoned through ghost names, inflated allowances, and unauthorised payments.

He assured the public that no effort would be spared in recovering stolen money and prosecuting all individuals found culpable.

“This is not just about the National Service Scheme,” Dr. Ayine stated.

“Operation Recover All Loot is a national mission to retrieve every cedi wrongfully taken from the people of Ghana, regardless of who is involved or how long ago the act was committed.”

He further noted that collaborative efforts are ongoing between the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Ghana Audit Service, and law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation.

Preliminary audits, he added, have already led to the freezing of assets and the retrieval of some funds.

The Attorney General urged citizens to support the anti-corruption drive by volunteering credible information and holding public officials to the highest standards of integrity.

 

Attorney General provides breakdown of monies stolen in the National Service ghost names scandal.

In the 2022/2023 service year alone, GHS 350 million was stolen.

Total amount stolen is GHS 548,333,542

 

 

Source: Classfmonline.com/Cecil Mensah