News
NSA Boss commends President Mahama for swift payment of NSP allowances
The Acting Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has lauded President John Dramani Mahama for his swift intervention in clearing all outstanding allowances owed to National Service Personnel (NSP) across the country.
Speaking at a press conference held at the NSA Headquarters in Accra today, Mr. Gyamfi expressed gratitude to the President for ensuring that all service personnel received their stipends within just 15 days of his administration. 
“I want to sincerely commend His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for his dedication to the welfare of Ghana’s youth. The speed and efficiency with which he addressed the payment of outstanding allowances in just two weeks is highly commendable,” he stated.
Assurance
He assured personnel that delays in allowance payments would now be a thing of the past, as the government, under President Mahama’s leadership, has prioritised timely disbursement.
Mr. Gyamfi revealed that all outstanding allowances for National Service Personnel from September 2024 to January 2025 have been fully settled.
He provided a detailed breakdown of the payments made:
September 2024 (Backlog): 10,712 personnel paid
October 2024 (Backlog): 10,712 personnel paid
November 2024: 98,145 personnel paid
December 2024: 98,145 personnel paid
January 2025: 98,145 personnel paid
He acknowledged the immense contributions of service personnel to Ghana’s socio-economic development, particularly in sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and local governance.
“We recognise the vital role that National Service personnel play in driving national development. That is why this government has made it a priority to ensure they receive their allowances on time,” he said.
Appreciation
The NSA boss also extended his appreciation to the Minister of Finance, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare-Addo, for their roles in facilitating the prompt payment of the allowances.
In a bid to enhance efficiency and prevent future payment delays, Mr. Gyamfi announced plans to integrate a biometric-driven payroll system into the NSA’s operations.
The new system, according to him, will provide real-time insights into validated payments, allow personnel to access electronic payslips, and introduce a transparent mechanism for addressing payment discrepancies.
He urged all personnel to adhere strictly to the monthly evaluation calendar to ensure smooth processing of allowances. Mr. Gyamfi announced that the NSA had released PIN codes for 16,289 trained teachers from 36 colleges of education to commence their national service registration.
Expired accreditation
However, he noted that 22 institutions had expired accreditation with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), affecting 9,769 graduates. “To maintain compliance and service credibility, registrations from these institutions will be put on hold until their accreditation status is regularised,” he said, urging affected institutions to renew their accreditation by August 31, 2025.
The NSA boss also revealed plans to revamp the Authority’s farm projects under President Mahama’s “Feed Ghana” agenda. The initiative will focus on increasing productivity in animal husbandry, aquaculture, poultry, and crop production while partnering with schools to revive school farms.
Mr. Gyamfi announced that the NSA Restaurant would now operate 24/7 as part of efforts to support President Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy. The restaurant will introduce delivery services, drive-through options, catering for events, and live band music on Friday nights.
Ghost names
Addressing the issue of ghost names and those allegedly responsible, the Director-General emphasised that the matter was under thorough investigation. He stressed his commitment to upholding due process and ensuring that nothing compromises the integrity of the inquiry.
“If you judge me by my demeanour, you might think I would hesitate to take action against those found culpable. But let me assure you that once the state investigative machinery completes its work, anyone implicated will face the full force of the law. There will be no exemptions, no leniency,” he cautioned.
He reiterated the NSA’s commitment to financial transparency, revealing that all user agencies had been directed to use the Ghana.Gov platform for payments to the Authority.
The measure, he explained, would ensure accountability and prevent fraudulent activities.
The Acting Director-General reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the NSA, ensuring that national service becomes more impactful.
“The NSA is at a turning point, and my leadership is committed to prioritising and promoting initiatives that matter to personnel, staff, stakeholders, and the nation. With strategic planning, efficient deployment, agricultural innovation, and financial transparency, we will transform the NSA into a world-class institution,” he promised.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
