NSS Scandal: Former NSA Boss Paid GH¢8.2 million After Being Posted as Volunteer
- The former Director-General of the National Service Authority, Osei Assibey Antwi, has been implicated in more alleged corruption
- A forensic audit of the National Service Authority suggests some payroll fraud on his part in 2022/2023
- Antwi is among 12 persons facing charges over alleged corruption, which led to the loss of over GH¢548 million
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The former Director-General of the National Service Authority, Osei Assibey Antwi, was posted as a volunteer within the national service scheme while he was an appointee.
According to the technical and forensic audit of the National Service Authority, this occurred during the 2022/2023 service year, about a year after he took office.
Source: Getty Images
The Fourth Estate reported that he was assigned an EZWICH card and posted to the Greater Accra region after his registration.
But auditors say the payroll records indicate he was assigned to the Kumawu Farms, a 200-acre farmland in the Ashanti Region.
According to the report, Antwi was paid GH¢516,000 every month for 16 months, totalling GH¢8,256,000.
It was noted that the amount paid to Assibey every month could have paid the allowance of 721 service personnel at the current service allowance of GH¢715.57.
The findings in the audit report align with a previous statement by the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, who noted that in the 2022/2023 service year, GH¢8,256,000 was deposited into EZWICH account number 1177042059, which is registered in the name of suspect Osei Assibey.
The 12 accused persons in the NSS scandal
Twelve individuals will be charged in connection with a major financial scandal at the National Service Scheme (NSS), which led to the loss of over GH¢548 million.
A headcount of National Service Scheme beneficiaries showed 81,885 ghost names on the payroll.
A Fourth Estate investigation also noted thousands of ghost names under the scheme.
This prompted President John Mahama to order the National Investigations Bureau to probe the National Service Authority.
The 13 accused persons fingered in the GH¢548 million NSS payroll fraud cases, as disclosed by the Attorney General, are:
- Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director
- Mustapha Ussif, former Executive Director
- Osei Assibey Antwi, former Director General
- Kwaku Ohene Gyan, former Deputy Executive Director for Operations
- Abraham Bismarck Gaise, former Internal Auditor
- Kwaku Adjei, Account Officer
- Iddrisu Abubakar, former Head of Accounts
- Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi, former Regional Director for Koforidua
- Prince Awuku, District Director
- Jacob Yawson, Management Information Systems Administrator in the Northern Region
- Two additional unnamed suspects (to be added once formally identified)
Private vendors named in NSS scandal
The Attorney General has also named several private vendors from the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Ashanti Regions who are accused of working with NSS staff to manipulate the Authority’s Central Management System for financial gain.
The vendors include:
- Isaac Osae Asamani, owner of Stalwart/Option Buy Ventures
- Charles Ohemeng, owner of CH OHEC Ventures
- Philomina Arthur, owner of Brainwave Ventures
- Rose Hamilton, owner of Marine Ventures
- Kwaku Opare Agbofa, owner of Franlisa Ventures
- Solomon Dwamena, owner of Alfarita Ventures
- Haruna Mawulaya, owner of Alfayda Enterprise
- Sylvia Ntriwa Opare, owner of Sylsona Ventures
A private legal practitioner, who spoke to YEN.com.gh under a condition of anonymity, said that from a human rights perspective, the state must suggest other ways to recover the alleged loot rather than prosecuting the suspects.
"I think it demands that you suggest other ways, if you have them. Recovery of the money from them could include taking and selling their property, and recovering funds from bank accounts if they are still available. Perhaps they could also be held to work for the state for free for a period of time."
ORAL identifies $21B in suspected looted funds
YEN.com.gh reported that the ORAL Preparatory Committee, established by President John Mahama, had identified $21.19 billion in potential recoveries.
The Preparatory Committee handed over its report to President John Mahama on February 2, 2025.
The ORAL team was launched on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as its chairman.
Source: YEN.com.gh
