Supreme Court throws out Gifty Oware's application to halt criminal trial

The Supreme Court has dismissed an application seeking to temporarily halt proceedings at the High Court in the case involving the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah.

The application, filed by her lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, sought to stay proceedings at the High Court pending the apex court’s interpretation of a practice direction that forms part of the basis of the trial’s case management procedures.

In its ruling delivered on May 19, 2026, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, held that the application did not meet the legal threshold required for a stay of proceedings.

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It noted that even if the constitutional interpretation of the practice direction is pursued, the High Court trial could still continue.

“We are of the view that, having reviewed the processes so far, the application for stay does not meet the threshold for stay of proceedings. The applicant may choose to pursue the interpretation of the practice direction, but the trial at the High Court may still go on,” the Chief Justice stated.

Background

In October 2025, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, filed charges against Oware-Mensah over allegations that she created 9,934 ghost names on the National Service Authority Central Management System.

Prosecutors allege that she subsequently gained control of Blocks of Life Consult Limited by installing her mother’s driver as a director and used the company to secure a financial facility from ADB.

According to the prosecution, she claimed to have supplied goods on hire purchase to the alleged ghost beneficiaries and used their allowances as collateral.

The prosecution further argues that this arrangement enabled her to fraudulently obtain GH¢38,458,248.87 over an 11-month period through deductions from allowances linked to the non-existent names.

She has been charged with five counts, including wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and money laundering.

She has pleaded not guilty and has been granted bail by the High Court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay.

JKB/MA

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