Anti-corruption campaigner Vitus Azeem has urged President John Dramani Mahama to avoid any form of interference in the ongoing investigations and planned prosecutions linked to the National Service Authority (NSA) payroll scandal.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Friday, June 13, Azeem commended the government for pursuing accountability but warned that political influence from the presidency could undermine public trust in the process.
“I think that there is a sign that he is determined, and he has got an Attorney General who is also able to pursue these things. What I have to say is that President Mahama should not get involved and should not try to influence whatever direction the issue goes. He should leave it to the appropriate institutions to investigate and prosecute when the need arises,” Azeem said.
His comments come on the heels of a major announcement by Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, who disclosed that 12 former NSA officials would soon face charges over their alleged roles in a payroll fraud scheme that cost the state over GH¢548 million.
According to Dr. Ayine, investigations have concluded, and the suspects are accused of creating and benefiting from the addition of thousands of ghost names to the NSA’s payroll during the 2022–2024 service years.
Those named include:
- Mustapha Ussif, former Executive Director
- Osei Assibey Antwi, former Director General
- Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director
- Kweku Ohene Gyan, former Deputy Executive Director for Operations
- Abraham Bismark Gaisie, former Head of Deployment
- Eric Nyarko, former Head of Accounts
- Albert Oteng Owusu, former Internal Auditor
- Kweku Dekyi Agyei, Accounts Officer
- Iddrisu Ibn Abu-Bakr, former Head of Accounts
- Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi, Koforidua Municipal Director
- Prince Agbofa Awuku, District Director
- Jacob Yawson, MIS Administrator in the Northern Regional Office
The Attorney General also indicated that several private vendors allegedly conspired with the accused public officers by manipulating the Authority’s Central Management System to defraud the state.
Meanwhile, President Mahama has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the rule of law and the independence of Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions. He has pledged not to interfere with the ongoing investigations or judicial processes surrounding the scandal.
