GHC653m Ghost Names Heist: Former NSS Boss Gifty Oware-Mensah Granted Bail, Passport Seized
Accra , October 22,2025 – A Former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has been granted bail in the sum of GHC10 million by the Accra High Court, presided over by Her Ladyship Audrey Kocuvi-Tay, amidst a massive financial scandal involving the National Service Scheme (NSS).
The embattled former official, who is at the center of the scandal, pleaded not guilty to charges connected to the alleged misappropriation of public funds during her tenure at the NSS. She was granted bail with three sureties, two of whom must be justified with landed properties, and has been ordered to deposit all her passports and has been placed on a stop list at all entry and exit points in the country.
The case, which has been adjourned to November 25, 2025, is just one of several scandals rocking the NSS, with investigations uncovering a massive payroll fraud scheme involving ghost names. The scheme's payroll listed over 180,000 service personnel, but a nationwide verification exercise revealed that only about 98,000 were genuine, leaving a staggering 81,885 suspected ghost names used to siphon as much as GH¢653 million from the state.
Gifty Oware-Mensah, along with former Executive Director Osei Assibey Antwi, has been accused of presiding over the fraudulent scheme, which has been described as one of the most significant financial scandals in the NSS's history. The allegations have sent shockwaves across the country, with many calling for swift and decisive action to bring those responsible to justice.
In addition to the ghost-name allegations, Mrs. Oware-Mensah is also being investigated for a GH¢30.7 million loan fraud involving a company she allegedly registered under false pretences. Reports suggest that she secured the loan from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) by using allowances of service personnel as collateral, further deepening the scandal.
Source – Lead News Online/Jeff Ago
