The Auditor-General has called for far-reaching structural and administrative reforms at the National Service Authority (NSA) following a forensic and technical audit that uncovered deep-rooted inefficiencies, weak controls, and widespread financial irregularities within the institution.
The audit, commissioned by the Office of the President and spanning the period from January 2018 to December 2024, scrutinised the NSA’s Central Service Management Portal (CSMP) and Metric App—the two digital systems responsible for managing the posting, enrolment, and monitoring of national service personnel.
According to the Auditor-General’s findings, the Authority’s internal control mechanisms were severely compromised, resulting in duplicated service numbers, unsupported payments, and fraudulent postings. The report concluded that the absence of robust system-based checks had allowed large-scale administrative lapses and financial leakages to persist undetected.
In response, the Auditor-General has outlined five sweeping reforms aimed at restoring accountability, strengthening governance, and ensuring operational integrity within the NSA.
- End to Manual Enrolments:
The report demands an immediate halt to all private and manual enrolments, insisting that every posting and validation must be conducted strictly through the approved CSMP platform. - Enforcement of “No Biometric, No Posting” Policy:
A mandatory biometric verification process is to be enforced for all service personnel. Only applicants with valid Ghana Cards who complete the biometric validation will be cleared for posting. - Tightened System Controls:
The NSA has been instructed to discontinue all “out-of-system” operations, including manual overrides and unauthorised postings. The Auditor-General emphasised the need for automated alerts and comprehensive audit trails to detect and flag suspicious activities in real time. - Payroll Management Transfer:
The report further recommends transferring control of the NSA’s payroll system to the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD). This measure, according to the Auditor-General, will improve transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation and irregular disbursements. - Enhanced Financial Oversight and Data Integrity:
The reforms call for stricter enforcement of compliance standards, better audit documentation, and periodic system reviews to maintain the accuracy and credibility of NSA’s data.
The latest recommendations follow an earlier audit that revealed GH¢2.45 billion in financial and administrative irregularities at the NSA. These irregularities included payments made without biometric validation, unsupported vendor transactions, and the duplication of service numbers—all pointing to deep flaws in the Authority’s monitoring framework.
The Auditor-General’s report has been formally submitted to the Office of the President and Parliament, urging the swift adoption of the proposed reforms to safeguard public funds and restore confidence in the National Service Scheme’s operations.
Sources within the Presidency describe the report as a “wake-up call” to overhaul a system long criticised for inefficiency and corruption. The reforms, once implemented, are expected to transform the NSA into a more transparent, data-driven, and accountable public institution.
“The National Service Authority is a critical pillar of national development. These reforms are not just administrative—they are essential to protecting the integrity of public service and the trust of young Ghanaians entering the workforce,” the report concluded.
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