Audio By Carbonatix
The state has filed an amended charge sheet in the criminal case against former National Service Authority (NSA) Executive Director Osei Assibey Antwi, increasing the number of charges from 14 to 21 and revising key particulars of the alleged offences.
Mr. Assibey Antwi, who led the NSA from September 2021 to January 2025, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
A key revision in the case concerns the principal allegation of causing financial loss to the state. The original charge claimed that Mr. Assibey Antwi authorised payments totalling GH¢500,861,744.02 to over 60,000 alleged ghost national service personnel.
The amended charge reduces the alleged loss to GH¢431,761,556.76, specifying that the payments were made to “non-service personnel and unverified individuals” rather than the previously stated "over 60,000 ghost names".
On the alleged misuse of authority, the prosecution claims Mr. Assibey Antwi authorised personnel lists submitted to the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited for monthly disbursements. As principal spending officer and signatory to NSA accounts, he oversaw day-to-day operations and approvals for payments to both verified personnel and marketplace vendors.
Several counts further allege that funds meant for service personnel were diverted to an e-zwich card registered in Mr. Assibey Antwi’s name, which reportedly received GH¢8,256,000 between 2022 and 2024. The card was not disclosed during the office handover and initially denied during questioning but was later recovered from his Dome residence on March 25, 2025, with evidence of personal withdrawals.
The amended charge sheet also alleges that payments were made to NSA marketplace vendors without services being rendered.
Some vendors are said to have refunded money directly to Mr. Assibey Antwi in cash. One cited example is GH¢7,704,880.92 allegedly paid to Direct Savings and Loans despite no services being provided.
Additional counts relate to the Sekyere-Kumawu Economic Enclave (Farm) Project, where GH¢106 million was transferred from the NSA Control Account between August 2022 and June 2024. Contracts were awarded for land clearing and irrigation, but prosecutors allege the project failed to deliver value for money, resulting in an estimated loss of GH¢61,289,843.30.
Other new charges include allegations of improper payment of public funds under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), as well as stealing, causing financial loss to the Republic, and money laundering.
Latest Stories
-
Mohammed Kudus drops out of Ghana squad for AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire and Gambia
29 minutes -
Africa World Airlines unveils first Embraer E190 as part of 10-aircraft fleet expansion
2 hours -
Civilian hospitalised after alleged machete attack by prison officers, inmates
2 hours -
Toobu rejects calls to recall Parliament over 3.9-tonne cocaine shipment
3 hours -
Residents in 5 Northern Regions warned of approaching rainstorm
3 hours -
Constituency Games still a work in progress – Sports Minister
3 hours -
Team Ghana set for historic Karting Africa Showrun in Angola
3 hours -
52-year-old South African arrested with suspected heroin after arriving from Accra
3 hours -
Shatta Wale challenges UPSA students to build entrepreneurial mindsets
4 hours -
Finance Minister advises African governments to strengthen regional tax cooperation
5 hours -
NPP accuses NDC of master-minding demolition of Ho regional office fence
5 hours -
Ghana plans stronger regional power trade with Nigeria
5 hours -
GRA Commissioner-General calls for stronger tax cooperation to boost regional revenue mobilisationÂ
5 hours -
NACOC needs more personnel to tackle drug trafficking – Toobu
5 hours -
Railway workers resist KMA eviction order, demand consultation
5 hours