Court dismisses injunction against NSS scandal exposé, NSA fined Ghc6k

An Accra High Court has dismissed an injunction application filed by the National Service Authority (NSA) aimed at preventing The Fourth Estate, a subsidiary of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), from releasing its documentary on the NSS scandal.

The investigative outlet had scheduled the publication of its latest exposé on alleged corrupt activities in the National Service Scheme for December 2, just five days before the 2024 general election. However, the NSA secured a 10-day injunction, halting the release barely 12 hours before the planned publication.

Following the expiration of the initial injunction on December 12, the NSA filed a second suit, arguing that the exposé would irreparably harm its reputation and management if published and later proven false.

At a hearing on December 19, Sam Okudzeto and Associates, representing the NSA, withdrew their case against the publication. The court subsequently dismissed the injunction application, allowing The Fourth Estate to proceed with its publication.

The court also awarded a cost of GHC 6,000 in favour of the MFWA and barred the NSA from filing any further suits to block the exposé.

In its response to the court’s ruling, The Fourth Estate announced plans to release the exposé soon.

Leaked documents suggest the scandal involves allegations of over 40,000 ghost names on the National Service Scheme’s payroll, resulting in an annual loss of over GHC 343 million for three consecutive years.

In a statement dated December 16, the NSA refuted claims of payroll fraud, stating:

The Authority firmly believes that no system, whether manual or electronic, is entirely immune to flaws. However, the evidence of efforts to eliminate fraudulent entries into the National Service portal has been overwhelming, effectively addressing the issue of 'Ghost Names' since 2021.

The NSA described the allegations as a threat to its transformative measures aimed at eradicating such malpractices and expressed its willingness to investigate the claims.

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