By Ruth Serwaa Asare
The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Ruth Dela Seddoh, has assured Ghanaians that the days of payroll fraud within the National Service Scheme are coming to an end.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra today, Madam Seddoh said the authority has rolled out a series of stringent IT reforms and enhanced internal controls to close loopholes that have cost the state millions of taxpayers’ money in the past.
“The recent scandal that affected the authority primarily revolved around payroll fraud,” she noted. “In May this year, we had to interdict two staff members from the Birim North District Office for their involvement in the illegal processing of allowances for personnel on study leave.”
Acknowledging that weak financial systems had previously enabled such malpractices, the NSA boss emphasized that the new measures are designed to ensure full transparency and accountability in payroll processing. “We recognize the human factor in all our operations,” she said. “But management has now introduced proper banking tools and digital checks in collaboration with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. I’m pleased to assure you that payroll fraud will soon be a thing of the past.”
Beyond fighting financial irregularities, Madam Seddoh highlighted the authority’s renewed focus on agriculture and innovation as part of its long-term national development agenda.
She revealed that the NSA currently manages a diverse range of agricultural projects across 12 regions, including large-scale crop farms, a modern poultry facility, and partnerships with local farms aimed at supporting food security. “We are transforming the National Service Authority from merely receiving graduates to becoming a catalyst for national and agricultural change,” she explained. “Our upcoming expansion of demonstration farms will deploy state-of-the-art technology, including AI, smart agriculture, and climate solutions.”
The reforms, she added, signal a new chapter for the National Service Authority — one rooted in integrity, innovation, and accountability.
