Gifty Oware trial reveals 63,673 ghost names received service allowances

Detective Sergeant Collins Woode, a witness in the trial of Gifty Oware, the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), has testified that over 63,000 "ghost names" were illegally paid allowances. The investigator informed the court that forensic analysis identified 63,673 faceless individuals who received payments for work they never performed. These questionable disbursements allegedly occurred during the 2023 and 2024 service periods.

According to the testimony, a Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) team conducted a detailed forensic audit of the authority’s Central Management System (CMS). This analysis uncovered that the thousands of names in question were submitted for payment processing despite lacking verifiable identities. Detective Sergeant Woode explained that the investigation established a direct link between the accused, Gifty Oware, and the systematic processing of these payments into the authority's management infrastructure.

The prosecution alleges that the scheme was designed to manipulate the service's payment system to siphon public funds under the guise of legitimate personnel allowances. The court heard that the forensic findings were pivotal in tracing how the funds were disbursed to accounts associated with the "faceless" entries. The trial is expected to continue with the cross-examination of the investigator by the defense, as the state seeks to establish the full scale of the financial loss incurred by the National Service Authority.

This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the integrity of the National Service Authority's payroll system, which has faced periodic allegations of "ghost name" padding in recent years. The current proceedings against Oware form part of a broader effort by the state to improve transparency within the authority and ensure that national service allowances reach only legitimate personnel who have completed their required duties.