Former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, has pleaded not guilty for allegedly authorizing payment of allowances to 60,000 non-existent (ghost) national service personnel.
Mr Assibey Antwi is accused of misappropriating the public funds during his tenure between August 2021 and February 2025.
According to the Attorney-General between August 2021 and February 2025, Antwi allegedly authorized payments of GH¢500.86 million in allowances to over 60,000 non-existent (ghost) national service personnel.
He denied 14 counts comprising seven counts of causing financial loss, six counts of stealing, and a count of money laundering, under sections 179A(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).
Currently, lawyers for the accused are currently a advancing self-recognisance bail argument.
Deputy Attorney General, Dr.Justice Srem Sai said the prosecution does not opposed to the grants of bail.
He however argued that, under his watch, some over GHc1.5 billion cannot be accounted for and the bail conditions should compel the accused to stand trial.
Source : www.kumasimail.com
