Osei Assibey Antwi, Gifty Oware-Mensah Among 12 Charged in GHC548 Million National Service Ghost Names Scandal
Twelve high-ranking current and former officials of the National Service Authority (NSA), including former Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and former Deputy Executive Director Gifty Oware-Mensah, are set to face criminal prosecution over their alleged roles in a GHC548 million payroll fraud scandal involving thousands of ghost names.
This was revealed by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, during a press briefing in Accra on Friday, June 13, 2025. According to Dr. Ayine, a comprehensive investigation jointly conducted by the Attorney-General’s office and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) uncovered an elaborate and coordinated scheme in which 9,934 fake names were added to the National Service payroll, allowing suspects to siphon massive amounts of public funds.
“These suspects took advantage of weaknesses in the payroll system to manipulate records and divert millions of cedis meant for legitimate National Service personnel,” Dr. Ayine told the media.
He confirmed that all 12 suspects will be prosecuted for various offences, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, obtaining public property by false pretence, money laundering, and using public office for private profit.
Key Accused Persons:
- Osei Assibey Antwi – Former Director-General, NSA
- Gifty Oware-Mensah – Former Deputy Executive Director
- Mustapha Ussif – Former Executive Director
- Ohene Gyan – Former Deputy Executive Director, Operations
- Abraham Bismark Gaise – Former Internal Auditor
- Kwaku D. Agyei – Accounts Officer
- Iddrisu Ibn Abubakar – Former Head of Accounts
- Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi – Koforidua Regional Director
- Price A. Awuku – District Director
- Jacob Yawson – MIS Administrator, Northern Region
11 & 12. Two unnamed suspects – Identities yet to be disclosed upon completion of legal documentation
According to the Attorney-General, the fraud was executed at multiple levels within the NSA. Fictitious names were created and processed as national service personnel, with their monthly allowances paid into specific Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) accounts controlled by the accused. These funds were subsequently withdrawn and distributed among the conspirators.
“The scale of the fraud is unprecedented. It is a betrayal of public trust and an abuse of public office,” Dr. Ayine emphasized.
He added that the government is actively pursuing the freezing of assets and bank accounts connected to the suspects. Steps are also underway to recover the stolen money and block any further misuse of public payroll systems.
Public Outrage and Calls for Reform
The scandal has triggered nationwide outrage, especially among youth groups, civil society organizations, and anti-corruption campaigners. Many have described the revelations as a “damning indictment of institutional failure” and have demanded immediate reforms to protect public funds.
“The National Service Scheme is meant to develop Ghana’s human capital—not to serve as a cash cow for corrupt officials,” said Ama Boakye, a policy analyst with the Centre for Public Accountability. “This case must set a precedent.”
Meanwhile, the current leadership of the National Service Authority has issued a brief statement, pledging full cooperation with investigators and affirming that steps are being taken to review internal systems and strengthen payroll monitoring.
As the case heads to court, it is expected to become one of the most closely watched corruption trials in the country’s history, testing the government’s resolve in the fight against high-level graft.
