The High Court in Accra has granted the request of lawyers for former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware Mensah, to scrutinize the disclosure documents filed by the Prosecution against her.
“All that I am saying is that, in view of the nature of the documents, we want to pray the court that My Lady will afford us just a little time to enable us examine the bulky documents handed to us, and we can also take a decision whether there would be a need for further disclosures,” Nana Banyin-Ackon, Counsel for the accused prayed.
“In view of that, we think the interest of justice would be better served if we are given time,” the Counsel added.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, the presiding judge after listening to the submission, adjourned the case to Monday, December 22, for a Case Management Conference.
Prosecution was led by Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa.
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.
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.
