Ghana Card Fails to Eliminate Ghost Names Amid Allegations of NSS Fraud
An investigation shows that despite the Ghana Card’s integration into the NSS registration, numerous ghost names persist due to system loopholes. Fraudulent registrations exploited by private candidates linked fake identities to institutions. Critics, including Sulemana Braimah, argue that the Ghana Card does not effectively identify ghost names, prompting scrutiny over the system’s integrity and effectiveness.
In the context of the upcoming 2024 elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s former Vice President, promoted the Ghana Card as an essential measure for identifying ghost names on government payrolls, specifically within the National Service Scheme (NSS). However, a recent investigation by The Fourth Estate has surfaced evidence indicating the presence of tens of thousands of ghost names within the NSS registration system despite the Ghana Card’s integration.
The investigation uncovered that a loophole allowed so-called “private candidates,” who were graduates that missed their National Service in previous years, to register fraudulently. This facilitated the manipulation of the registration system through the use of fake identities assigned to multiple institutions. Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of The Fourth Estate, commented on the issue, noting, “The system was supposed to prevent this kind of fraud, but those behind the scheme found a way around it.”
Documents reviewed by the investigative team demonstrated that numerous ghost names were associated with identical fake student IDs and Ghana Card numbers, indicating a severe oversight in the identification process. Braimah asserted that Dr. Bawumia’s claims about the Ghana Card’s ability to detect ghost names were unfounded, stating, “Dr. Bawumia said the Ghana Card could identify ghost names from any digitalized system. However, the fraud was well-calculated, and we even found instances where the same name appeared over 200 times.”
These developments have escalated concerns regarding the efficacy of Ghana’s digital identity system in combating payroll fraud, suggesting critical vulnerabilities remain. In response to these allegations, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), countered Braimah’s claims, asserting, “What Sulemana is showing is not factual; there is an ongoing investigation to establish culpability, but it is not done yet.”
The investigation reveals significant challenges in Ghana’s NSS registration process, particularly regarding the effectiveness of the Ghana Card in preventing ghost names from infiltrating the payroll. Despite assurances from officials about the system’s robustness, the exploitation of loopholes raises questions about accountability and transparency within the government. The situation calls for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s digital identity systems and fraud prevention measures.
Original Source: 3news.com
