The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has arrested Kwaku Ohene Gyan, the former Deputy Director of Operations at the National Service Authority (NSA), over his alleged involvement in a payroll fraud scheme linked to the ongoing “ghost names” scandal.
According to credible government sources cited by 3news, authorities are also actively pursuing former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who is reportedly on the run and wanted in connection with the same case.
Kwaku Ohene Gyan, widely known by his alias Osonoba, was apprehended on the evening of Saturday, February 22, 2025, and is currently being held at the NIB headquarters in Accra. He is expected to meet with his legal team in the coming days to explore his legal options.
The arrests form part of a deepening investigation into fraudulent activities at the NSA, particularly concerning the insertion of non-existent names—commonly referred to as ghost names—into the Authority’s payroll. The scheme is believed to have caused significant financial losses to the state, amounting to several millions of cedis.
“This is a serious case of systemic payroll fraud that undermines public trust and drains national resources,” a senior official familiar with the investigation told 3news under condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who served as Deputy Executive Director of the NSA until her departure, is believed to have gone into hiding. Security agencies have launched a nationwide manhunt to locate and apprehend her for questioning.
The latest developments follow a string of high-profile corruption-related arrests, including that of Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the former Board Chair of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), who is currently under investigation for his alleged role in the controversial $2 million Sky Train scandal.
The government has pledged to crack down on corruption, with security and investigative agencies intensifying efforts under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative to ensure accountability and recover stolen funds.
“No one is above the law. We will pursue every individual involved, regardless of their political or institutional affiliations,” a senior government spokesperson stated.
The NSA payroll scandal has now emerged as one of the most significant public sector fraud cases in recent years, with arrests, asset seizures, and prosecutions expected to continue in the coming weeks.
