NSA cuts payroll from GH₵1.6bn to GH₵700m after ghost names removal and system reforms

The National Service Authority has reduced its annual payroll from about GH₵1.6 billion to roughly GH₵700 million following a major cleanup exercise that eliminated ghost names and strengthened internal controls.

Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations, Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, disclosed the development in an interview on Joy FM on Monday, April 20, describing the sharp drop in expenditure as a clear outcome of ongoing reforms within the Authority.

“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 Ghana cedis,” he said.

Lt. Col. Kpeungu clarified that the savings were not achieved by reducing the number of national service personnel posted across the country, but by tightening the processes used to validate and process monthly allowance payments.

According to him, the reforms focused on eliminating fraudulent entries and ensuring that only verified personnel are paid.

This distinction is critical, as it indicates that the efficiency gains were driven by system integrity rather than workforce cuts, preserving opportunities for graduates while reducing financial leakages.

At the core of the reforms is a rigorous, technology-driven verification framework designed to track and validate every service personnel before payment is approved.

Under the new system:

Monthly assessments must be endorsed by supervisors at places of posting
Reports are verified at the district level
Internal auditors review submissions for compliance
Regional directors grant approval
Final reconciliation is conducted by accountants at the NSA head office
Payments are processed through the Controller and Accountant General’s Department
Lt. Col. Kpeungu acknowledged that the process involves multiple layers but stressed that it is fully digitised and has not resulted in significant delays.

By eliminating ghost names and tightening verification processes, the Authority has not only cut expenditure by more than half but also enhanced the credibility of its operations