Former NSA Deputy Director Gifty Oware Mensah Pleads Not Guilty to GH¢38 Million Financial Loss Charges

A former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware Mensah, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including willfully causing financial loss to the state, in connection with an alleged GH¢38 million payroll fraud scheme.

Mrs. Oware Mensah was arraigned before the Accra High Court on Wednesday, where she was formally charged with five counts: willfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, money laundering, and using public office for personal gain.

According to prosecutors, during her tenure at the NSA, Mrs. Oware Mensah allegedly facilitated the creation of approximately 9,934 fictitious National Service personnel—commonly referred to as “ghost names”—and unlawfully profited from the monthly allowances disbursed under those names.

The alleged scheme is said to have caused the state a financial loss exceeding GH¢38 million.

Defence counsel, Nanabayin Ackon, in a bail application, described Mrs. Oware Mensah as a responsible public servant with a fixed place of residence and no risk of absconding. He argued that she had cooperated fully with investigators and posed no threat to the ongoing legal process.

The court granted bail in the sum of GH¢10 million, with three sureties—two of whom must be justified. As part of her bail conditions, Mrs. Oware Mensah is required to surrender all her passports to the court registry and report to the police twice monthly, on the first Tuesday and Thursday, until the case concludes.

The prosecution has been directed to file and serve all relevant witness statements and evidence before the next hearing.

The case has been adjourned to November 18, 2025, for case management.

The prosecution forms part of broader state efforts to tackle financial and administrative misconduct within public institutions, particularly those involving payroll fraud and ghost name syndicates.