The High Court in Accra has ordered the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware Mensah, to file the list of all witnesses she intends to call by December 17, 2025.
This directive is to ensure effective Case Management Conference on December 17 when the case is next called.
Gifty Oware-Mensah has been charged for allegedly causing financial loss to the tune of GH¢38 million in relation to the National Service Ghost names scandal.
She pleaded not guilty to a count of stealing, two counts of willfully causing financial loss to the republic, a count each of using public office for profit, and money laundering, and was granted bail.
On Tuesday, November 25, when the case was up for Case Management Conference, the case was adjourned.
The Court presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay said, the business for the day (Thursday, November 25) was for Case Management Conference (CMC).
However, as indicated in the submission of the prosecution, they were yet to properly file and serve the accused person and his lawyers with same.
Prior to adjourning the case, the Court said, “I order the other side (Accused person) to file a list of witnesses they may call when it becomes necessary,” the Court said, adding, “This should be filed before the next adjourned date to enable the court to conduct a case management conference.”
Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisa, had earlier indicated that the Prosecution had filed almost all their disclosures but a few, and prayed for a week’s adjournment to complete the filing.
“We were directed by this court to file our disclosure by the 19th November, 2025. Due to a few hitches from our witnesses in signing their portion of their (Witnesses’ Statements), we were unable to meet the deadline,” she added.
“We have this morning (November 25) filed almost all the witness statements, so we plead with the court for just a week more to file what is left,” the DPP said
Lawyer Nana Banyin Ackon, who was holding brief for Garry Nimako Marfo, represented the accused person, Gifty Oware, who was present.
The case has been adjourned to December 17 for a Case Management Conference.
The former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has been released on bail after executing the conditions surrounding her GH¢10 million bail sum.
She has been accused of causing financial loss of more than GH¢38 million to the state and has denied all the charges leveled against her.
Background
On October 22, the High Court in Accra admitted her to bail in the sum of GH¢10 million with three sureties, two of whom should be justified.
The Court has issued an order to place her on a stop list at all entry points. This is part of the conditions surrounding a GH¢10 million bail granted her by the High Court after she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, the presiding judge, said the sureties should place copies of their passports and Ghana Cards with the Registry of the Court.
The court also directed that the accused person should surrender all her travel passports to the court while also placing her on a stop list at all entry points.
The court ordered that she should report to the case investigator on the first and third Tuesdays every month, while the investigator is to file a scheduled report to the court on the last working day of every month.
The prosecution has been directed to file their disclosures on or before November 19, and the case has been adjourned to November 25 for Case Management Conference.
She pleaded not guilty to a count of stealing, two counts of willfully causing financial loss to the republic, a count each of using public office for profit, and money laundering.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, who represented the prosecution, said the total amount lost is GH¢38,458,248.87 to the Republic.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
