News

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

Published

12 months 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

Energy

See The Areas That Will Be Affected By Power Outages On June 4

Published

3 days ago

June 4, 2026

AladdynKing

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced multiple power outages for Thursday, June 4, 2026, affecting communities in the Tema, Eastern, Central, and Western Regions, with a combination of planned and emergency maintenance exercises scheduled across the country.

In the Tema Area, a planned maintenance exercise will take place from 10:00 am to 4:00pm. The affected areas include the Sea Water Desalination Plant, Maranatha, Buade, Glow Lamp, Frimpongmaa Estates, Abrantie, Dan Adams, Coastal Estates, Basket, GCB Training School, Ataa Adama, Royal Ravico, Junction Mall, Regimanuel Estates, Parakuo Estates, Queensland International School, Kpoo Keke, Best Western Premier Hotel, Leisure Hours Hotel, and extensive parts of Nungua including Zongo, Township, Traditional Council, Polyclinic and Secondary School. Also affected are the Kpeshie Divisional Police Headquarters, Coco Beach, Main 1, Father’s Hotel, C5 and surrounding areas. The notice was originally issued on Monday, June 1.

In the Eastern Region, a planned maintenance exercise will run from 8:00am to 5:00pm, affecting Sekesua, Anyamoni, Oterkpolu, Bukonor, Asesewa, Akateng and surrounding areas. This notice was originally issued on Tuesday, 2nd June.

The Central Region will experience a planned outage from 9:00am to 3:30pm, affecting Brimso Headworks, Akaikrom, Police Barrier, Ankaful Junction, Mpeasem, WAEC, Yayaaikawa, Wanyiwato, part of Dominase, Duakyimase and surrounding areas.

In the Western Region, ECG will undertake two separate exercises. The first is an emergency maintenance from 10:00am to 2:00pm, affecting Dixcove, Busua, Cape 3, Agona Damtsi, GREL and surrounding areas. The second is another emergency maintenance from 9:00am to 4:00pm, affecting Akoon, UEE, parts of Market Circle, Railway Quarters, Apinto Hospital, Cyanide, Kwabedu, Alhaji Dauda, New Atuabo, Budo City, Banso, Esuosu and surrounding areas.

ECG has expressed regret for the inconvenience that will arise from all these exercises. The company has advised affected customers to make alternative arrangements for power-dependent activities during the specified hours.

All notices were originally issued between Monday, June 1 and Wednesday, June 3, 2026. ECG assured that power supply would be restored to all affected areas upon completion of the scheduled maintenance works. Customers have been encouraged to contact ECG’s official communication channels for further updates.

graphic.com.gh

General News

Today’s Newspaper Headlines: Thursday, 4th June, 2026

Published

3 days ago

June 4, 2026

AladdynKing

General News

Assin Edubiase: School Bus ‘Plunges’ Into River, Two Pupils Killed

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

AladdynKing

Tragedy struck when a school bus transporting more than 40 pupils of a preparatory school at Assin Edubiase in the Assin South District of the Central Region veered off the road and plunged into a river.

It resulted in the death of two kindergarten pupils of the Alice Elites Academy.

The deceased, a three-year-old and a five-year-old, were among pupils who were in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus with registration number AS 2218-20.

The accident occurred on the Assin Kwafokrom-Homaho stretch on Monday [June 1, 2026].

Graphic Online understands that the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, it veered off the road, and plunged into the river.

Dozens of pupils got injured.

ASP Wonder Lumor from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Central North Regional Police Command told Graphic Online that the 40 injured pupils were transported to health facilities for emergency medical care.

According to him, 22 of the victims were taken to the St. Francis Xavier Hospital, while the 18 others received treatment at the Assin Edubiase Health Centre.

ASP Lumor explained that all the injured pupils responded positively to treatment and were later discharged.

graphic.com.gh