NSS Ghost Names Scandal: Court Places Gifty Oware-Mensah on Stop List At All Entry Points

• Gifty Oware-Mensah will face restrictions on her movement as part of the bail conditions granted to her
• She is facing charges of stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and abuse of public office while at the National Service Authority
• Oware-Mensah is accused of stealing GH¢31,502,091.40 belonging to the National Service Authority

Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), has been placed on a stop list at all exit points in the country.

This is part of the conditions surrounding a GH¢10 million bail granted to her by the High Court.

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Starr News reported that she pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Wednesday, October 22.

In addition to the GH¢10 million bail sum, she is to produce three sureties, two of whom are to be justified with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

Appearing in court on Wednesday, October 22, with a bandage wrapped around her left wrist, wearing a multicoloured shirt and a black scarf, she denied the charges against her.

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She pleaded not guilty to a count of stealing, two counts of willfully causing financial loss to the republic, a count each of using public office for profit, and money laundering.

Oware-Mensah missed her first court date after her lawyers submitted a two-day medical excuse to the court, pleading for an adjournment.

Breakdown of charges against Oware-Mensah

Oware-Mensah, who was previously detained, is accused of stealing GH¢31,502,091.40 belonging to the National Service Authority.

According to court documents, funds were secured through an agreement with the Agricultural Development Bank.

The repayments were expected to be deducted from the allowances of 9,934 National Service Personnel, all of whom were later discovered to be fictitious.

Part of the misappropriated funds was traced to Amaecom Global Company, where Oware-Mensah was also a director, and other companies linked to her.

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Akufo-Addo appointee posted as NSS 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.

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.

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The 11 accused persons in NSS scandal

YEN.com.gh reported that 11 persons are facing charges in connection with the scandal, which led to losses of 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.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh