STATEMENT BY KWAME OWUSU BAMPOE, FORMER NASPA PRESIDENT (ASHANTI REGION), ON THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS INTO NSA-VENDOR DEALINGS

KWAME OWUSU BAMPOE and Gifty Oware

As a former President of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) in the Ashanti Region, I find it necessary and timely to offer a public perspective on the ongoing investigations being spearheaded by the Office of the Attorney General into alleged irregularities involving certain officials of the National Service Authority (NSA) and associated vendors.

At the outset, let me commend the Attorney General and his office for their unwavering commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in our public institutions. Corruption and abuse of office, wherever they exist, must be exposed and addressed without fear or favor. Ghana’s democracy and its institutions are strengthened when due diligence is done, and the public interest is prioritized.

That said, it is equally important that in the quest for justice, we do not inadvertently cause harm to innocent parties, particularly small- and medium-scale vendors who have, over the years, played a crucial role in supporting national service personnel across the country.

I wish to clarify a fundamental structural issue that seems to have been overlooked in some of the public commentary. The National Service Authority (NSA), as an institution, does not enter into direct contracts with vendors for the supply of goods or provision of credit to National Service Personnel (NSPs). That responsibility lies squarely with NASPA — the elected welfare association of NSPs — at both regional and district levels.

NASPA, through its leadership structures, facilitates agreements with vendors to enable service personnel to access essential items such as mattresses, electronic appliances, mobile phones, and in some cases, emergency credit facilities. These arrangements are typically structured with clear repayment terms, deducted from the monthly allowances of personnel. This system has, for years, provided needed relief and basic necessities for NSPs, many of whom are posted to unfamiliar locations with limited initial support.

Vendors who participate in these schemes do so based on mutual trust and in good faith. They are not equipped with the means to independently verify backend personnel data or validate internal NSA payment authorizations. Their role is to deliver agreed goods or services based on documentation presented to them through NASPA’s coordination. To now cast vendors — many of whom are long-standing service providers with track records of integrity — as participants in a “criminal enterprise” is both unfortunate and potentially damaging to livelihoods and reputations that have been built over time.

It is important to stress that any fabrication or manipulation of data — including the submission of ghost names — could only be effected by individuals with privileged access within the NSA’s internal systems. If such infractions occurred, the proper focus of accountability must be on those entrusted with the responsibility to safeguard and authenticate official data. Vendors, in this context, are not architects of the system but partners who operate within it, often guided by the assurances of state officials.

I am therefore respectfully urging the Attorney General’s office to exercise utmost fairness and balance in its ongoing inquiry. Vendors who have been named, either directly or by implication, deserve the opportunity to present their side, share documentation, and clarify their involvement — if any. Public accountability must be accompanied by procedural justice, where those accused are granted a fair hearing before conclusions are drawn or reputations tarnished.

Injustice is not only done through acts of corruption; it is also done when innocent contributors to national development are unduly vilified in the name of accountability. We cannot afford to weaken the very support systems that have sustained service personnel over the years.

Let the investigations continue — without obstruction and with full transparency. But let them also be carried out with diligence, impartiality, and respect for all parties involved, especially the vendor community whose operations have, in many cases, bridged welfare gaps for thousands of young Ghanaians during their national service journey.

Let us protect integrity — both in process and in perception.

Thank you.

Signed,
Kwame Owusu Bampoe
Former President, NASPA – Ashanti Region