Henry Nana Boakye, a former deputy executive director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), has strongly criticised The Fourth Estate’s latest investigative report alleging corruption within the scheme.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, Boakye described the report as misleading and lacking proper verification.
The investigative piece claimed that the NSS database contained names of individuals supposedly completing their national service at over 90 years old.
The findings raised concerns about potential ghost names and fraudulent activities within the scheme.
However, Boakye dismissed the report, arguing that the investigative team failed to understand the structure of NSS postings and its budgeting process.
Breakdown of NSS Posting Process
Boakye outlined the four main posting categories under the NSS:
Main Postings (July-August) – Covers private and public universities, as well as technical universities.
Teacher Postings (November-December) – Done in collaboration with the Teachers’ Council, with service starting in January the following year.
Nursing Postings (April & September) – Conducted in two cohorts annually.
Private Registrations & Supplementary Lists – Includes individuals who were unable to complete their service in previous years due to various reasons.
According to Boakye, the discrepancy in the reported numbers arose because The Fourth Estate compared the initial announcement of postings (e.g., 85,000 in 2018) with the final figure submitted to Parliament (135,000).
He emphasised that the parliamentary figure represents a summation of all postings across different categories, rather than an attempt to inflate numbers for financial gain.
“What kind of reckless journalism is this? So simplistic. They failed to factor in the teacher postings, nursing postings, and private registrations, then used the difference to claim ghost names and corruption,” Boakye argued.
Robust verification system prevents fraud
Boakye also defended the integrity of the NSS system, stating that it has multiple layers of biometric verification to prevent fraudulent entries. He explained that fraudsters and scammers frequently attempt to infiltrate the system but are unable to bypass security checks.
“The system is step-by-step. Even if someone enters fake details, they will be flagged at the biometric verification stage conducted at the regional, municipal, or district level,” he said.
Additionally, NSS payments are processed through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which requires biometric validation before disbursements are made.
Personnel must also submit evaluation forms before receiving their allowances. Boakye challenged The Fourth Estate to verify whether any of the alleged ghost names actually received payments.
Calls for responsible journalism
Expressing frustration over the investigative report, Boakye accused The Fourth Estate of creating unnecessary panic and damaging reputations.
He noted that neither he nor other key officials were contacted for verification before the publication.
“You create fear and panic by suggesting that state coffers are being looted without even contacting those who ran the system. This is not investigative journalism—it’s reckless reporting,” he stated.
Boakye hinted at potential legal action against The Fourth Estate, asserting that the report unfairly tarnished his name and misrepresented the workings of the NSS. He urged journalists to conduct thorough investigations and engage relevant authorities before publishing such claims.
