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National Service Scandal: Former NSA Bosses Charged with Stealing and Money Laundering

A major scandal has rocked Ghana’s National Service Authority (NSA), with two former top officials, Gifty Oware-Mensah and Osei Assibey Antwi, facing serious charges of stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and abuse of public office. The allegations, involving over GH¢638 million in misappropriated funds, have exposed deep-rooted corruption within the NSA, including the use of “ghost names” and unauthorized payments. Below is a detailed account of the charges and investigations, as presented in the Accra High Court.

Gifty Oware-Mensah: Alleged Misappropriation of GH¢38 Million

Gifty Oware-Mensah, the former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, faces multiple charges for allegedly misappropriating GH¢38,458,248.87 between February 2022 and March 2024. As the official overseeing finance, audit, and procurement, Oware-Mensah is accused of orchestrating a scheme to siphon funds meant for National Service Personnel.

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Details of the Charges

According to the Attorney-General’s Department, Oware-Mensah transferred GH¢31.5 million from a loan facility, secured through an agreement with the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), into the account of her private company, Blocks of Life Consult. The funds were purportedly for supplying goods on a hire-purchase basis to 9,934 National Service Personnel. However, investigations revealed that no goods were supplied, and the personnel listed were fictitious “ghost names” generated from the NSA’s internal system.

The charges against Oware-Mensah include:

Stealing: Misappropriating GH¢31,502,091.40 belonging to the NSA.
Causing Financial Loss: Willfully orchestrating a fake hire-purchase arrangement.
Abuse of Public Office: Using her position for personal gain.
Money Laundering: Transferring funds into personal and affiliated accounts, including those of Amaecom Global Company, where she was a director.

Investigation Trigger

The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) launched an investigation following reports of financial irregularities at the NSA. The probe uncovered the trail of misappropriated funds, leading to Oware-Mensah’s arraignment before the Accra High Court. The case has raised serious questions about oversight and accountability within the NSA’s financial operations.

Osei Assibey Antwi: GH¢600 Million in Alleged Financial Misconduct

Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Executive Director of the NSA, faces 14 counts of charges, including causing financial loss, stealing, and money laundering, in a case involving over GH¢600 million. The allegations span his tenure from August 2021 to February 2025, during which he is accused of authorizing payments to non-existent personnel and diverting public funds for personal use.

Ghost Names and Unauthorized Payments

Prosecutors allege that Assibey Antwi caused a financial loss of GH¢500,861,744.02 to the state by authorizing allowances for over 60,000 “ghost” service personnel. These fictitious names were allegedly used to siphon funds from the NSA’s budget between August 2021 and February 2025.

Additionally, Assibey Antwi faces six counts of stealing for misappropriating various sums, including:

GH¢3.6 million on August 22, 2023
GH¢516,000 on September 11, October 26, and November 23, 2023
GH¢1.03 million on December 18, 2023
GH¢2.06 million on May 14, 2024

Transfers to Personal Accounts

Between January 2022 and December 2024, Assibey Antwi allegedly authorized transfers of GH¢8.26 million from the NSA’s Control Account to his personal e-zwich card account (No. 1177042059). Prosecutors claim these transactions constitute money laundering, as the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

Kumawu Farm Project Misuse

The charge sheet also details unauthorized withdrawals from the Kumawu Farm Project account (No. 1018631542212), totaling GH¢74 million. These include:

GH¢55 million on September 30, 2022
GH¢15 million on October 20, 2023
GH¢4 million on January 24, 2024

Prosecutors allege that these funds were not used for their intended purpose, further compounding the financial loss to the state.

Legal Proceedings

Assibey Antwi, who served as Executive Director until early 2025, has not yet entered a plea. The case is set to be heard at the Accra High Court, where prosecutors will present evidence to substantiate the charges under sections 179A(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).

Broader Implications

The charges against Oware-Mensah and Assibey Antwi highlight systemic issues within the NSA, particularly the exploitation of “ghost names” and weak financial oversight. The use of fictitious personnel to secure loans and allowances has not only caused significant financial loss but also undermined the integrity of the National Service program, which is meant to support Ghana’s youth and public institutions.

The ongoing investigations and court proceedings will likely shed more light on the extent of the corruption and the mechanisms that allowed such large-scale misappropriation to go undetected for years. As the case unfolds, Ghanaians await justice and stronger measures to prevent future scandals in public institutions.

Stay tuned for updates as the Accra High Court hears these high-profile cases.