The Accra High Court has made a significant decision in a case involving the National Service Authority (NSA) and The Fourth Estate, a subsidiary of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). The court has dismissed an injunction application filed by the NSA, which aimed to prevent The Fourth Estate from releasing its documentary on the NSS scandal.
The Fourth Estate had planned to publish its latest exposé on alleged corrupt activities within the National Service Scheme on December 2, just days before the 2024 general election. However, the NSA was able to secure a 10-day injunction, halting the release just 12 hours before the scheduled publication.
After the initial injunction expired on December 12, the NSA filed a second suit, claiming that the publication of the exposé would irreparably damage its reputation and management if later proven false.
During a hearing on December 19, legal representatives for the NSA, Sam Okudzeto and Associates, decided to withdraw their case against the publication. As a result, the court dismissed the injunction application, allowing The Fourth Estate to move forward with its planned release. Additionally, the court awarded a cost of GHC 6,000 in favor of the MFWA and prohibited the NSA from filing any further suits to block the exposé.
In response to the court’s ruling, The Fourth Estate announced its intentions to release the exposé in the near future.
Leaked documents suggest that the scandal involves allegations of over 40,000 ghost names on the National Service Scheme’s payroll, leading to an annual loss of over GHC 343 million for three consecutive years.
In a statement dated December 16, the NSA denied 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 expressed its commitment to investigating the allegations and ensuring that its transformative measures to eradicate such malpractices are upheld.
