No Ghana Card, no national service

In a landmark move to eliminate ghost names from its payroll, the National Service Authority (NSA) has introduced a new requirement for prospective graduates seeking to register for national service.
Acting Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi, announced that only individuals with a valid Ghana Card would be eligible for registration.
“If you do not have a valid Ghana Card ID, you will not be allowed into our system,” he stated emphatically.
Mr. Gyamfi further warned, “If you are a prospective graduate and you do not have a valid Ghana Card to register, you will not be allowed to do national service. These are some of the pathways to take away the ghost names.”

Ghost names uncovered
The new policy comes in the wake of a startling discovery during a recent headcount of active National Service personnel, which revealed that the NSA payroll contained a staggering 81,885 suspected ghost names.
This headcount, initiated by the Minister of Finance as a prerequisite for clearing outstanding allowance arrears dating back to August 2024, exposed significant shortcomings in previous administrative practices.
Mr. Gyamfi attributed the prevalence of ghost names to a leadership problem under prior management—a failure to implement necessary checks and policies that would have saved taxpayers’ money.

Harnessing biometric technology
Central to the new registration process is Ghana Card’s biometric authentication system, which ensures real-time verification of identities and bolsters security.
This system leverages advanced fingerprint and facial recognition technology, combined with the Identity Verification System Platform (IVSP), to generate an auditable verification code.
The code is securely stored in the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) verification register, ensuring that every verification transaction is transparent and traceable.
The auditable verification code of NIA is sent to all relevant parties in an eco-system in real time, and is also stored on NIA’s audit server.
This distributed ledger effect prevents fraud and makes digital compliance and monitoring easy.
Unauthorized verification that skips the NIA process creates gaps that can be exploited fraudulently.
That is why a biometric verification directly on the NIA system is essential to prevent fraud, and third party verification on systems not authorized by NIA should be avoided
Such measures are expected to eliminate reliance on easily forged physical documents, and align with both national and international security standards.
Several key benefits of biometric verification includes preventing identity theft and impersonation, eliminates reliance on easily forged physical documents, ensures real-time authentication with National Identity Register (NIR) records, and aligns with national and international security standards.
By implementing real-time biometric verification, NSA can safeguard its operations against identity fraud, uphold legal requirements, and contribute to national security efforts.

Bridging a massive funding gap
The headcount initiative also revealed that the Ministry of Finance released GH¢226,019,224 in allowance arrears for 98,145 actual National Service personnel—a figure that is 81,885 less than the 180,030 names previously reported by the former management. This discrepancy underscores the critical need for robust administrative controls.
President John Dramani Mahama, who directed an investigation into the matter on February 12, 2025, has urged the current management of the National Service Scheme to implement urgent reforms.
“We must establish adequate controls to prevent a recurrence of the ghost names phenomenon,” the President stated, emphasizing that the integrity of government expenditure is paramount.

A call to action for prospective graduates
In addition to the crackdown on ghost names, prospective graduates are encouraged to obtain their Ghana Card through the National Identification Authority as a mandatory requirement for national service registration.
This initiative not only streamlines the registration process but also ensures that only legitimate candidates are recorded, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency.

A model for reform and accountability
The implementation of the Ghana Card verification requirement marks a significant step forward for the NSA and the broader public service sector.

By leveraging cutting-edge biometric technology and addressing longstanding administrative lapses, Ghana is setting a new standard for efficiency and accountability in government operations.
As the NSA moves forward with these reforms, it is hoped that the elimination of ghost names will lead to more effective use of public funds, greater transparency in payroll management, and ultimately, improved services for the nation’s youth.
In an era where digital transformation is key to modern governance, this initiative by the NSA stands as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to reform and innovation.
With the new policies in place, the NSA is poised to not only safeguard national resources but also build trust with the public—a crucial step in ensuring sustainable development and progress for Ghana.