Court orders Oware-Mensah to file witness list in GH¢1.5 billion NSA case

The High Court in Accra has given former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, up to January 27 to file her list of witnesses in an ongoing trial over an alleged GH¢38 million financial loss linked to the NSA “ghost names” scandal.

Presiding judge Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay cautioned that the court would “advise itself” if Oware-Mensah fails to comply, noting that she had already ignored a similar order issued on December 22, 2025.

Her lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, told the court that the defence could not finalise its witnesses until it had fully assessed the prosecution’s evidence.

The judge rejected the explanation, stressing that court orders are compulsory and cannot be obeyed at convenience.

Oware-Mensah has pleaded not guilty to charges including willfully causing financial loss, money laundering, stealing, and using public office for profit.

She was granted GH¢10 million bail on October 25, 2025 with conditions that include three sureties, two with proof of landed property, surrendering her passports and reporting to the police twice every month.

The case follows charges filed on October 13, 2025 by the Attorney General against Gifty Oware-Mensah and former NSA Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi.

Prosecutors allege the two authorised payments to about 69,000 non-existent National Service Personnel between August 2021 and February 2025.

Antwi is facing 14 counts, including stealing and money laundering.

He is accused of diverting GH¢8.26 million into his personal account and withdrawing GH¢106 million from the NSA’s Kumawu Farm Project without using the funds for their intended purpose.

The total value of offences linked to him is estimated at GH¢615 million, while Oware-Mensah faces five counts related to stealing and willfully causing financial loss.

NA/AE