MFWA Flags Ongoing Risks in NSS Payroll System
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has raised serious concerns about the National Service Scheme (NSS) continuing to operate with the same digital platform that enabled a massive payroll fraud scandal, which saw GH¢548 million lost to ghost names. During an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Executive Director Sulemana Braimah expressed astonishment that the NSS, despite leadership changes and public outrage, still relies on the same flawed system.
Warnings Ignored Since 2017
According to Braimah, early signs of irregularities were flagged as far back as 2017 by regional directors who noticed suspicious pre-approvals of thousands of service personnel. These concerns, raised during internal meetings, were reportedly brushed aside with vague reassurances and no concrete action. The failure to act enabled the fraudulent activities to escalate, peaking between 2022 and 2023 with GH¢350 million lost in a single year.
Weak Attempts at Reform
Braimah criticized the authorities for only making minimal and reactive changes after the fraud was uncovered. “They started to tweak the system slightly, but by then, the damage was already done,” he remarked. These late interventions, he noted, were insufficient to prevent further abuse or restore public trust in the scheme’s integrity.
Continued Use of a Compromised Platform
Most troubling, Braimah noted, is the NSS’s decision to continue using the same Metric App platform that was central to the fraud. He questioned why, under new leadership, no robust overhaul or secure alternative has been implemented. His warning underscores ongoing risks to public funds and institutional accountability in Ghana’s public service management.
Source: https://www.myjoyonline.com
