Accra: A letter purportedly authored by former National Service Scheme Deputy Executive Director Gifty Oware-Mensah, instructing the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to transfer funds to her private company, has been accepted as evidence in the ongoing National Service scandal trial.
According to Ghana Web, Head of the Commercial Banking Department at ADB, Gilbert Sebe-Yeboah, identified several documents to the court as part of his testimony. Gifty Oware-Mensah faces charges of allegedly causing a financial loss of GHS38 million related to the National Service Ghost names scandal. She has entered a plea of not guilty to charges including stealing, willfully causing financial loss, using a public office for profit, and money laundering, and was granted bail.
On May 18, 2028, during the concluding part of his evidence, led by Principal State Attorney Dufie Prempeh, the witness submitted documents to support the prosecution's case. The Principal State Attorney referenced the document in paragraph 20 of the witness's statement, identifying a letter regarding the transfer of funds signed by Oware-Mensah, which was tendered as evidence.
Defense counsel, Gary Nimako Marfo, objected to the letter's admission, citing issues of legibility, absence of a date, and the lack of an original copy. Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay acknowledged the document's faintness but admitted it, contingent on the prosecution providing a clearer copy.
The court ordered the prosecution to present a more legible version of the letter, emphasizing the need for clarity on whether the original copy includes a date, which would typically be the author's responsibility. The prosecution also introduced additional evidence, including a pendrive with related documents and a letter from the accused instructing a money transfer to her private account.
Nimako Marfo further objected to the letter directing funds to Blocks of Life Consult, arguing it lacked any indication of originating from the National Service Secretariat. The Principal State Attorney countered by stating the original letter bore official NSS letterhead and reference number and promised to present a clearer copy.
The judge, after examining both the photocopy and original document, instructed the prosecution to file a clearer copy and admitted the document subject to this condition. The witness's statement and exhibits were accepted as evidence-in-chief, and the trial was adjourned to May 20, 2026, for cross-examination.