The Attorney General’s press conference yesterday may have been designed for public applause, but it exposed more confusion than clarity.
It was evident that during his much-touted accountability series, the Attorney General (AG), Dr. Ayine, claimed he had uncovered fresh evidence of malfeasance in the ongoing National Service Scheme (NSS) scandal. He alleged that GH₵189 million had been transferred into an account at the Bank of Ghana and that GH₵80 million of that amount could not be traced. Even more damning, he claimed to have found two cheques, reportedly bearing the name and account details of the former Director General of the National Service Authority, used to withdraw close to GH₵2 million.
Sensationalism
But as the dust settles from the AG’s sensational press conference, glaring loopholes in his narrative suggest that this entire spectacle may be more of a diversionary stunt than a credible case. For one, the AG failed to mention the exact account number at the Bank of Ghana into which the said GH₵189 million was transferred. Nor did he show any voucher number or documentation backing the alleged withdrawals. In a supposed forensic audit, such omissions are not just questionable, they are deeply troubling.
Let’s be frank. Since when did the National Service Scheme operate an account at the Bank of Ghana that allowed individuals to walk in and cash cheques? The Bank of Ghana does not function as a commercial bank. It is a central bank responsible for interbank transactions, not retail banking for government agencies. So, if cheques were indeed cashed from a BoG account, how did that process bypass the entire NSS financial structure? Moreover, NSS cheques are not signed by one person. Standard procedure requires dual signatories, typically the Accountant and the Executive Director. Where then is the record of these signatories?
Cheques
If the AG truly found two cheques used to withdraw public funds, why did he not project the cheque numbers or voucher details at his press briefing? Every financial transaction within the NSS must be accompanied by a voucher indicating the purpose and the authorisation trail. Without these critical documents, the AG’s claims rest on thin air.
It is also worth asking why the AG seems so eager to score points in the court of public opinion before even giving accused persons fair hearing during a formal case proceedings in court. Has he interrogated the former Accountant? Has the full management team of the era in question been engaged? If this was a thorough forensic audit, unanswered questions should have been directed to the appropriate officers for response. Yet we see no evidence of this due diligence.
At best, this is a premature prosecution in the media. At worst, it’s a calculated political move to distract from the real issues of the wars in the northern part of Ghana plaguing the country. Either way, one thing is clear: the AG goofed big time.
The writer is a former National Service Personnel, Ho.
