A letter said to have been written by former National Service Scheme Deputy Executive Director Gifty Oware-Mensah directing the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to transfer funds to her private company has been admitted into evidence in the ongoing National Service scandal trial in Accra.
Head of the Commercial Banking Department at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Gilbert Sebe-Yeboah, on Monday, identified series of documents to the Court as part of his evidence before the Court.
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 Monday, May 18, 2028, the Witness while being led by Principal State Attorney, Dufie Prempeh, for the concluding part of his evidence in chief, submitted to the Court documents to back the prosecution’s case.
The Principal State Attorney, Dufie Prempeh, told the court the document was referenced in paragraph 20 of the witness’s statement.
“Letter from NSS transfer of funds with respect to higher purchase signed by deputy executive director Gifty Oware-Mensah,” the Witness identified and “I wish to tender it in evidence,” Prempeh said.
Lead counsel for the accused person, Gary Nimako Marfo, objected to the tendering of the letter, arguing it was “not legible, undated, not the original copy” and that the letterhead was “so faint that it is not even readable.”
“The documents which the witness intends to tender is not legible, undated, not the original copy and in fact the supposed letterhead which he claims was authored by the accused person is so faint that it is not readable,” Nimako Marfo said.
Presiding judge, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, agreed the copy before the court was faint but admitted the document subject to the prosecution filing a clearer copy.
“I have perused the said document and I do agree with counsel for the accused person that the writings on the said letter appeared to be very faint… Since it is not all that legible one cannot tell whether or not the original copy has a date which burden would have been on the author of that document,” the judge said.
The Court said “My orders to the prosecution at this stage is to provide the court with a much legible clearer letter.
“In the circumstance this letter would be admitted subject to the prosecution proving a clear copy to the court.”
The prosecution also tendered a pendrive containing documents including a bank consumer flyer, an excel file with 5,890 national service personnel, a letter titled ‘NSS facility repayment advice,’ a master agreement between ADB and the National Service Authority dated 5 March 2024.
The Witness also identified a letter from the accused person directing the Bank to transfer an amount of money to Blocks of Life Consult (private account of the accused person).
Nimako Marfo raised a further objection to the letter allegedly directing funds to Blocks of Life Consult, saying it bore no indication of originating from the National Service Secretariat.
“The document the witness intends to tender does not bear any mark, semblance, indication or any scintilla of a trace as emanating from national service secretariat,” he said.
“We submit that this document is not from proper custody and same must be rejected by this court.”
The Principal State Attorney in her response said, the prosecution had the original copy on NSS letterhead with a reference number and would serve a clearer copy to defence counsel.
After reviewing both the photocopy and the original shown in open court, the judge ruled the issue was one of legibility and directed the prosecution to file a clearer copy.
“I will therefore order the prosecution to provide and file a much clearer copy. This document will be admitted subject to a clearer copy being filed,” the judge ruled.
The witness statement and exhibits were adopted as the witness’s evidence-in-chief while the case has been adjourned to May 20, 2026 for cross examination.
Source : www.kumasimail.com
