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The Management of the National Service Scheme, on the advice of the Board has, with immediate effect, dismissed one hundred and sixty-three (163) staff of the Scheme following receipt of official report from the Board’s Disciplinary Committee about the financial malfeasance identified in the operations of the Personnel Allowances Accounts in the 2013/14 service year.
A press statement signed by the Acting Executive Director of the Scheme, Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte says after thorough deliberations following the Disciplinary Committee’s report, the Board recommended summary dismissal with immediate effect for gross misconduct and bringing the name of the Scheme into disrepute through the “ghost name scam”.
The statement said staff, including two on retirement would also be prosecuted and made to refund the monies they embezzled, while decision on three staff serving as prosecution witnesses have been deferred.
[contextly_sidebar id=”OHUUirwKgOXQoOmfh2SFwGdo6UKjW5uY”]In the statement, Dr. Kpessa-Whyte noted that the dismissals are without prejudice to criminal prosecutions by the State.
This is in line with President John Mahama’s resolve to fight corruption and abuse of public office.
It would be recalled that following receipt of a report from the BNI earlier this year, the Board of the National Service Scheme authorized a Disciplinary Committee to initiate hearing of the staff involved in the “ghost name scam”, as required by the rules of the Public Services Commission, and recommend appropriate action.
Meanwhile the former Executive Director of the NSS, Alhaji Alhassan Imoro, during whose tenure the fraud occurred, is standing trial with 34 others for conspiracy to commit crime, giving bribe to influence a public officer and stealing.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing a total amount of GH¢ 107,897,018.36 belonging to the government of Ghana through the payment of ghost or non-existent service personnel.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana