NSA Audit Finds Nearly 1,000 Babies Under One on Payroll – Acting DG Ruth Seddoh

A recent audit by Ghana’s National Service Authority (NSA) has revealed a shocking anomaly: nearly 1,000 infants under the age of one were listed on the payroll as active service personnel. Acting Director General Ruth Dela Seddoh confirmed that this issue stemmed from weaknesses in the Authority’s Central Management System (CMS), which should have flagged such obvious discrepancies.

The audit also uncovered that around 3,000 individuals over the age of 80 were receiving allowances, despite the official service exit age being 40. These findings point to systemic failures that have persisted for years, raising serious questions about accountability within the system.

In response, the NSA has assured the public that reforms are underway. A dedicated transition team is implementing a new framework to ensure payroll accuracy and transparency, with national service postings scheduled for release by November 1, 2025.

This audit is part of a broader initiative to tackle corruption across Ghana’s public sector, following earlier discoveries of “ghost workers” on government payrolls, which led to the recovery of millions in unearned salaries. Authorities hope these measures will restore confidence in the National Service program and prevent such anomalies in the future.