News
It Couldn’t Be a Mistake — NSS Deputy DG Questions Intent Behind Ghost Names Fraud
The Deputy Director-General of Operations at the National Service Authority (NSA), Major Moses Dok Nach Kpengu, believes the recent ghost names scandal that led to the loss of millions of cedis from the Authority’s coffers could not have been a mere mistake.
Speaking to the media, Major Kpengu revealed that the irregularities were either the result of a failed system or the deliberate actions of individuals who intended to siphon public funds.
“The system failed us, or it could be that people were intentional about causing financial irregularities. If the system did not fail us, how did ghost names enter the system and allow people to siphon millions of cedis?” he quizzed.
He noted that although he was not in office when the incident occurred, the available data suggests that the fraud could have been prevented if the system had been properly monitored.
According to him, “It baffles my mind that when you have 100,000 registered names uploaded into the system and later validate more than 100,000, you don’t flag it. If you go ahead to pay salaries for 120,000 when only 100,000 were registered, it means someone knew about it. Otherwise, why would you pay the extra 20,000?”
Major Kpengu explained that such a situation could only point to two possibilities — a major system failure or intentional wrongdoing by some individuals within the service.
He further disclosed that the Attorney General’s Department is currently handling the matter, and the National Service Authority has introduced new measures and internal controls to prevent similar irregularities in the future.
“We have put in place certain structures to make sure this kind of thing does not happen again,” he assured.
The ghost names scandal at the National Service Secretariat has raised serious concerns about accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
The government, through the relevant authorities, is currently investigating the incident as part of broader efforts to strengthen systems and restore public confidence in state institutions.
— By Jacob Aggrey
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
