BNI yet to retransfer over GHC16m recovered from indicted NSS Officials – Mustapha Yusif

The Bureau of National Investigations has failed to reimburse the Ghana National Service over GHC6million following its investigations into a fraud case at the scheme several years ago, NSS boss has revealed.

Acting Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Mustapha Yusif, established that BNI have since not credited the Scheme’s account after they (BNI) asked perpetrators to transfer all monies realized into their account.

In 2014, officials at the BNI uncovered a deep seated rot at the NSS where the roster was inflated with several ghost names; a situation which led to monies been paid into duplicate accounts as well as perpetrators cashing out the allowances of these non-existent names.

Some top officials at the National Service Scheme were also alleged to have connived and facilitated the payment of nearly GHC8 million into these accounts.

Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee today April 17, head of the National Service Scheme, Mustapha Ussif, indicated the BNI always comes up with explanations such as; monies been currently used as evidences for the unresolved case any time they are been asked to transfer the said funds.

“BNI in their operations decided to create a special account to collect monies that were allegedly taken from service personnel allowance account by implicated officers. When I assumed office and went through my handing over notes, and Auditor General’s report, I officially wrote to the BNI Director and requested to meet him and discuss those monies could be refund back to National Service in order for us to send back to checks. They then responded that because the case is still pending in court, their using the money as evidence until judgement is passed”. The NSS boss added.

MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George on the other hand, expressing shock as to how cash stored up in bank accounts could be used as evidences, questioned whether there were no bank statements attached to rather present as proofs.

“So the BNI has written to you that GHC6.5million is been kept by them as evidence in the court case? I do not see the reason why the money sitting in their account and not sent back to checks is evidence. Once there is a bank statement showing that those recoveries have been made, that sould be sufficient for any prosecution” Sam George articulated.



Officials from the National Financial Investment Centre, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ghana National Theatre also responded to questions from the Public Accounts Committee today.