Massive Fraud Unveiled: Former Officials Face GH¢2.4 Billion Surcharge
In a shocking revelation, the Auditor-General's office has taken a bold step to hold former National Service Authority (NSA) officials accountable for their alleged involvement in a massive fraud scheme. The move has resulted in a staggering GH¢2.4 billion surcharge, a figure that demands attention and raises questions about the extent of corruption.
But here's where it gets controversial: the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, has directly implicated the former Director-General, Osei Assibey Antwi, and his deputy, Gifty Oware-Mensah, in a web of fraudulent activities. The audit report, covering a period from January 2018 to December 2024, exposes a 'well-orchestrated conspiracy' to defraud the state.
'A Coordinated Effort to Defraud': The investigation uncovered a sophisticated network designed to illegally divert funds intended for National Service Personnel (NSP). The Auditor-General emphasized that the evidence suggests a deliberate and coordinated attempt to create channels for siphoning money.
The Scheme Unraveled:
A Virtual Marketplace of Deception: At the heart of this scandal is a virtual marketplace, a platform that allowed NSPs to purchase goods on credit, with payments deducted from their allowances. However, the forensic audit revealed a shocking truth: this marketplace was a facade, generating ghost payments.
Funneling Funds: The scheme operated through Ezwich and Ghanapay platforms, channeling GH¢301.6 million to various vendor accounts. Astonishingly, a significant portion, GH¢169 million, was paid to a single entity, Direct Savings and Loans Ltd, under suspicious vendor names.
Catastrophic Control Failures: The report highlights a series of alarming failures: no formal agreements with vendors, no proof of delivered goods, and a complete absence of board approval. Moreover, the initiative was entirely outside the NSA's mandate, raising questions about oversight and accountability.
Individuals Implicated:
Confessions and Complicity: A key suspect from Kumasi has allegedly confessed to withdrawing funds and handing them over to Oware-Mensah. Additionally, the developer of the marketplace portal has admitted their role, shedding light on the technical aspects of the scheme.
Abuse of Office: The audit uncovered senior NSA management, including Assibey Antwi and Oware-Mensah, enrolling themselves as service personnel to draw illegal allowances. Assibey Antwi received a monthly allowance of GH¢516,000 for 16 months, totaling GH¢8.2 million. Oware-Mensah, as the former Deputy Director-General, also registered as NSS personnel, collecting allowances while drawing her full salary.
The Road to Recovery:
Surcharge in Progress: The audit report leaves no room for compromise, demanding full documentation from the NSA to justify the GH¢301.6 million vendor payments. Failure to provide adequate justification will result in the recovery of the entire amount, with the implicated individuals surcharged at the current Bank of Ghana interest rate.
Additional Irregularities: The audit further exposed payments to ineligible personnel, including those under 18 or over 60, totaling GH¢1.97 million. Astonishingly, some individuals on the NSA payroll were found to be over 1,000 years old, a clear indication of fraudulent activities. Furthermore, GH¢2.2 million was paid to companies owned by a sitting NSA Board Member, a blatant breach of procurement ethics.
And this is the part most people miss: the extent of this fraud and the intricate web of complicity. As the surcharge process moves forward, the public's attention is drawn to the inner workings of this scandal. Will the full extent of the scheme be revealed, and what further consequences await those involved? The story continues to unfold, leaving many questions for the public to ponder.
