The Attorney-General has filed documents he intends to rely on in the prosecution of former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, who is standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of GH¢431.76 million to the state by authorising payments to unverified individuals and non-service personnel.
In court yesterday, the prosecution, however, said it would need more time to file the remaining documents.
The court adjourned the case to May 13, 2026, for the prosecution, while varying the bail condition of the accused by ordering him to report to the Bureau of National Intelligence.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of causing financial loss to the state.
Background
Investigations by the intelligence bureau reportedly revealed that 63,672 unverified registrants were submitted to the payment system between 2018 and 2024 for service allowances or vendor payments.
Between August 2021 and February 2025, the NSA allegedly disbursed about GH¢432 million to individuals who had not undertaken national service or whose identities could not be verified.
According to the prosecution, Mr Assibey Antwi, who served as NSA Executive Director from September 2021 to January 2025, authorised personnel lists submitted to the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited for the payment of monthly allowances.
As principal spending officer, he oversaw day-to-day operations and was a signatory to NSA accounts.
The NSA system processes payments to validated personnel and marketplace vendors providing goods or credit services, with deductions made from personnel allowances.
Several counts in the charge sheet allege that funds meant for service personnel allowances were transferred to an e-zwich card registered in the name of Mr Assibey Antwi.
Investigators explained that between 2022 and 2024, the card received GH¢8,256,000.
The accused allegedly failed to disclose the card during the handover of office, denied its existence during interrogation, but it was later recovered during a search at his residence at Dome on March 25, 2025.
Further checks reportedly showed that he personally withdrew funds from the card.
Claims
The prosecution further claimed that payments were made to vendors under an NSA marketplace system without services being rendered, with some vendors allegedly refunding money directly to Mr Assibey Antwi in cash rather than to the authority.
One cited an example involving about GH¢8 million paid to Direct Savings and Loans, despite no services being provided.
Additional counts relate to a Sekyere-Kumawu Economic Enclave (Farm) project.
Between August 2022 and June 2024, GH¢106 million was transferred from the NSA Control Account to a project account.
Contracts for land clearing and irrigation development were awarded, but prosecutors said that the authority did not obtain value for money, resulting in an estimated loss of GH¢61,289,843.30.
Accusation
The former Executive Director had been accused of improper payment of public funds under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), while others maintain allegations of stealing, causing financial loss to the Republic, and money laundering.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh