Accra: The High Court in Accra has instructed Gifty Oware-Mensah, the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), to submit her list of witnesses by January 27 in an ongoing trial concerning an alleged GHS38 million financial loss associated with the NSA 'ghost names' scandal. Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay warned that the court would 'advise itself' should Oware-Mensah fail to comply, highlighting her previous disregard for a similar order issued on December 22, 2025.
According to Ghana Web, Oware-Mensah's attorney, Gary Nimako Marfo, informed the court that the defense required more time to finalize its witnesses due to the need to thoroughly review the prosecution's evidence. However, the judge dismissed this reasoning, emphasizing that court orders are mandatory and cannot be selectively followed.
Oware-Mensah, who has pleaded not guilty to charges including willfully causing financial loss, money laundering, stealing, and using public office for profit, was granted GHS10 million bail on October 25, 2025. The bail conditions require three sureties, two of whom must provide proof of landed property, alongside the surrendering of her passports and mandatory bi-monthly police reporting.
The legal proceedings stem from charges filed by the Attorney General on October 13, 2025, against Gifty Oware-Mensah and the former NSA Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi. Prosecutors allege that both individuals sanctioned payments to approximately 69,000 fictitious National Service Personnel from August 2021 to February 2025.
Osei Assibey Antwi is facing 14 counts, including stealing and money laundering, with accusations that he diverted GHS8.26 million into his personal account and withdrew GHS106 million from the NSA's Kumawu Farm Project without allocating the funds for their designated purpose. The total value of offences linked to Antwi is estimated at GHS615 million, while Oware-Mensah is charged with five counts related to stealing and willfully causing financial loss.