The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has officially submitted a petition to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, calling for an investigation into alleged widespread corruption within the National Service Scheme (NSS).

This comes in the wake of an investigative report by The Fourth Estate, which uncovered serious misconduct and systemic fraud in the scheme.

Although the petition faced legal attempts to delay its release, it has surfaced online, sparking nationwide discussions and debates. The revelations have caught the attention of the public and the media, with Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana host, Dr Randy Abbey, reading portions of the petition on air.

The findings suggest that, over the past four years (2020-2024), the alleged fraudulent inclusion of 200,000 ghost names on the scheme’s payroll could have resulted in financial losses amounting to GHS 68.64 billion (approximately $4.5 billion).

This calculation is based on the monthly allowance of GHS 715 per ghost name over a 48-month period. Notably, this estimate does not account for potential losses prior to 2020.

The magnitude of the alleged corruption has raised concerns about financial accountability and the integrity of the National Service Scheme. Calls for swift action from the Special Prosecutor and relevant authorities continue to dominate public discourse.