News

NSS ghost names saga: Investigative report fingers 22 with over ¢560m set for recovery

Published

1 year ago

June 13, 2025

The Deputy Attorney General has revealed that investigators probing ghost names in the National Service Scheme (NSS) have submitted a damning report identifying 22 individuals responsible for the alleged theft of over GH¢560 million.

Dr Justice Srem Sai, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, disclosed that this is just one part of a broader investigation into financial irregularities at the Scheme.

“National Service is in different aspects,” he explained. “There’s an aspect of the projects the secretariat undertakes. They have farms where they acquire property, grow and sell produce. Then there’s the issue of paying ghost National Service persons.”

The investigators, he said, have so far only completed their work on the ghost names.

“It was submitted last week by the investigators. We have started building a docket on that.”

That specific report, he confirmed, implicates 22 individuals. “When the investigators came, they identified 22 accused persons for the ghost names part.”

The total amount of money involved is staggering. “We are talking about over GHS560 million. That’s what we are looking at from the 22 individuals that investigators believe were responsible for, if you like, alleged loot.”

But even as the prosecution team begins work on the docket, Dr Srem Sai revealed that not all those accused may end up in court.

“You have to weigh the cost in terms of time, effort of bringing all these people to court, and the benefit you get of retrieving the money,” he said.

Some of the suspects, he added, have already shown a willingness to cooperate.

“A lot of them — only a few are not willing — but a lot of them are willing to return the money.”

Furthermore, some are offering to become prosecution witnesses. “Some of them have shown a desire to return the money and to serve as what, prosecution witnesses against the rest.”

This means the number of people eventually charged will likely drop.

“Before we go to court, the number will not be 22. It will come down, because we are still having a conversation with these people.”

He also confirmed that plea bargaining is on the table for some of the accused.

“After we charge them, they also have an opportunity to do what we call plea bargaining. To come and say, ‘Well, we are guilty. But instead of sending us to prison for this number of years, you can come down to this, and we return this amount of money.’”

Dr Srem Sai said these talks allow the accused to make a case for leniency in exchange for money and testimony.

“They give us the reasons why we should not go with them through the entire process.”

He emphasised that the ghost names investigation is only one part of a larger set of probes. More reports are expected on other schemes run by the National Service Secretariat.

For now, though, the focus is on securing recovery and ensuring justice, one conversation at a time, he stated.

myjoyonline.com

Education

Over 10 Students Arrested Over Okuapeman-Mount Sinai SHS Clash

Published

2 days ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

More than 10 students have been apprehended in connection with the clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The arrests follow reprisal attacks between students of the two schools, which resulted in the burning and destruction of several structures on both campuses in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 2, Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, said some of the students fled their schools when the police arrived. Still, he warned that their absence would not prevent the police from arresting them.

“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he said, adding that the police are compiling a comprehensive list of all persons involved in the violence.

He disclosed that the investigation had also uncovered information suggesting that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts.

According to him, the police have obtained the names of teachers allegedly linked to the incident and will take action against them if investigations establish their involvement.

“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” DCOP Owusu-Bempah warned.

DCOP Owusu-Bempah assured the public that anyone found to have participated in the violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law, while urging students to return to school and cooperate with the investigation.

He also appealed against any interference in the police process, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to restore calm and ensure accountability.

At Okuapeman SHS, six students were injured and taken to hospital following the incident. The school’s Headmaster said four of the students had since been treated and discharged, while two remained on admission as of Wednesday.

The exact trigger for the clashes remains unclear, but the police have begun investigations to establish what led to the confrontation and identify all those responsible.

citinewsroom.com

Education

GES Releases National Harmonised Prospectus For 2026/27 SHS Admissions

Published

2 days ago

September 3, 2026

AladdynKing

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of the National Harmonised Prospectus for prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The prospectus is intended to guide parents and students on the essential items required for enrolment, covering both boarding and day students.

GES has urged parents and students preparing for the next stage of their education to carefully review the prospectus and make the necessary preparations ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.

Schools and other relevant stakeholders have also been directed to adhere to the requirements outlined in the prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.

The release of the prospectus comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and is expected to help newly admitted students and their parents adequately prepare for enrolment once placements are released.

Parents and prospective students are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the approved requirements to avoid challenges during the admission process.

Below is the list of items outlined in the prospectus that parents and guardians are required to acquire for their wards: