Registration for the 2025/2026 National Service Scheme (NSS) has been temporarily suspended following the shutdown of the Centralised Management System (CMS), the government has confirmed.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House on Monday, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, explained that the suspension was necessary to allow for a comprehensive forensic audit of the NSS platform.
“As you recall, the Ministry announced the suspension of the CMS used for postings by the National Service Authority. This action followed a directive from the presidency, ordering the system to be taken offline for a full audit by the Ghana Audit Service,” Mr Opare Addo said.
The move comes in the wake of revelations that the CMS had allegedly been manipulated in a large-scale financial fraud scheme, widely referred to as the “ghost name scandal.”
According to the Minister, the National Security apparatus is currently conducting investigations, while the Attorney-General’s Office is reviewing case files for possible prosecutions.
The CMS shutdown has directly disrupted registration and payment processing for prospective service personnel.
“Pincodes have already been generated, and class lists submitted by all accredited tertiary institutions. However, the registration and payment processes are currently on hold due to the CMS being offline,” he added.
Roughly 130,000 graduates from tertiary institutions are expected to be deployed under the 2025/2026 NSS cycle, providing essential support to public and private sector organisations nationwide.
To address the disruption and prevent future abuse, the Minister announced that a new, more secure digital platform will soon be rolled out.
“Plans are underway to deploy a new comprehensive system that meets modern technical specifications and guarantees the integrity of the NSS process going forward,” Mr Opare Addo assured.
The Government Accountability Series is a periodic platform through which ministers present mid-year updates and performance assessments, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
