Payroll Fraud: Birim North NSA District Manager and MIS Manager Interdicted

The National Service Authority (NSA) has interdicted the Birim North District Manager and MIS Manager after uncovering a “well-orchestrated act of systemic” payroll fraud.

They were interdicted after they confessed to the crime following a meeting with them.

“During a meeting convened this morning, both individuals were presented with substantial evidence of their misconduct. In further discussions, the two officers admitted to their direct involvement in the fraudulent activity. As a result, the Management of the Authority has interdicted the two officers, pending further investigations.”

Discovery
According to the Authority, the two suspects “intentionally” validated and processed monthly allowances for at least 29 individuals for the 2024/2025 service year and 49 service persons in the 2023/2024 service year on “Study Leave with Pay” or those already in full-time employment.

These, it said, are misrepresented as regular National Service Personnel.

Larger Picture
The NSA recognises that this action is part of the larger payroll fraud, which has bedevilled the Authority for years.

The broader picture of the nationwide canker came to the fore in the ongoing reforms and comprehensive clean-up of the National Service enrolment process.

This is a trend of the willful falsification of records by some individuals currently working as Teachers, Nurses, Midwives, customs officers, and others who work in Ministries, Departments, Agencies and private sector companies.

“These individuals who are confirmed to be permanent staff within the Public Service are found to deliberately conceal their employment status and fraudulently enrol as regular National Service Personnel; they draw monthly Service Allowance as if they are regular National Service Personnel in violation of established protocols and the laws governing the Public Service.”

It explained that “Study Leave” or “Employed National Service Personnel” are individuals who are gainfully employed and receive monthly salaries from their employers but have not previously undertaken their mandatory National Service.

“Such individuals are allowed to register and serve to fulfil legal obligations under the National Service Act; however, these persons are not regular National Service Persons, so they are not entitled to monthly service allowances, as they continue to receive salaries from their respective employers”

It noted that notice of their ineligibility to be paid regular National Service personnel allowance is stated clearly in their appointment letters and processes leading to their enrolment as National Service Personnel.

However, these gainfully employed persons sometimes collude with NSA District/Municipal/Metropolitan Managers and sometimes on the blind side of NSA Staff, change their status; this category of persons receives their monthly salaries as well as the NSA allowance, although it is illegal.

The Authority highlighted that this conduct constitutes a clear breach of Section 12 of the Public Services Commission Act, 1994 (Act 482), which obligates public officers to exhibit honesty, integrity, and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

“It further constitutes unlawful enrichment and misappropriation of public funds, and shall be addressed with the full weight of applicable laws.”

Reforms
To eradicate this, the Authority said it is implementing stricter verification processes to sanitise the system and restore integrity to the National Service Authority.

“All records submitted for enrolment will now be validated against the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) employment database to detect and eliminate instances of double remuneration and identity falsification.”

Warning
It therefore warned all those involved in this dastardly act that the staff of the National Intelligence Bureau and whistleblowers have been monitoring them quietly for months.

It noted that the Staff of the NSA who are found guilty of this offence risk being dismissed from the Authority.

Additionally, Public Servants who involve themselves in this also face termination from their primary employment, in addition to prosecution and permanent disqualification from future public service opportunities.

It used the occasion to reassure the public that its enhanced systems and internal controls will expose all offenders.

“Anyone who attempts to defraud the system shall be found out, shamed, and held fully accountable.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini