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National Service Authority to Bar National Service Registration by Graduates Without Ghana Card
Ghana’s National Service Authority (NSA) will prohibit prospective graduates without a valid Ghana Card from registering for national service, a move aimed at eliminating payroll fraud, Director General Felix Gyamfi has announced.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, 13th February 2025, Gyamfi emphasized the need for stricter enrollment measures to ensure only eligible personnel are enlisted.
“If you do not have a valid Ghana Card ID, you will not be allowed into our system. If you are a prospective graduate without a Ghana Card, you will not be permitted to undertake national service. These are some of the steps we are taking to remove ghost names,” he said.
Crackdown on Payroll Fraud
The NSA’s decision follows an extensive audit commissioned by the Finance Ministry, which uncovered 81,885 suspected ghost names on the national service payroll. The verification exercise was a prerequisite for settling outstanding allowances dating back to August 2024.
Gyamfi blamed the persistence of fraudulent enrollments on what he described as weak oversight by the previous administration. “This was a leadership failure. The necessary checks that should have been in place to safeguard taxpayers’ money were ignored,” he stated.
Implications for Graduates
The directive is expected to tighten payroll controls but could also pose challenges for graduates who have yet to obtain a Ghana Card. With registration deadlines approaching, affected students may need to fast-track their national identification process to ensure eligibility.
The NSA maintains that the Ghana Card verification system is essential for accountability and the long-term integrity of the scheme, positioning the directive as part of broader reforms to enhance public sector efficiency.
