Ex-NSS Boss faces criminal charges over GH¢600 million financial scandal
By DL News
Published
2 min read
The charges, filed by state prosecutors at the Accra High Court, allege that Mr. Assibey Antwi sanctioned a series of fraudulent payments and unauthorised transfers during his tenure between August 2021 and February 2025
The former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, has been formally charged with 14 criminal counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering, in connection with the alleged diversion of more than GH¢600 million in public funds.
The charges, filed by state prosecutors at the Accra High Court, allege that Mr. Assibey Antwi sanctioned a series of fraudulent payments and unauthorised transfers during his tenure between August 2021 and February 2025, resulting in massive losses to the Republic.
Massive Ghost Names Scandal
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors claim that the former NSA head approved payments to over 60,000 non-existent national service personnel, costing the state an estimated GH¢500,861,744.02.
The alleged misconduct forms the basis of Count One, which accuses him of willfully causing financial loss to the Republic contrary to Section 179A(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Alleged Theft of Service Funds
In addition to the ghost names allegations, Mr. Assibey Antwi faces six counts of stealing, with prosecutors asserting that he unlawfully appropriated millions of cedis belonging to the NSA between August 2023 and May 2024.
The alleged thefts include:
GH¢3.6 million on August 22, 2023
GH¢516,000 each on September 11, October 26, and November 23, 2023
GH¢1.03 million on December 18, 2023
GH¢2.06 million on May 14, 2024
Personal Account Transfers and Money Laundering Claims
Prosecutors further contend that between January 2022 and December 2024, Mr. Assibey Antwi transferred GH¢8.26 million from the NSA’s Control Account into his personal e-zwich card account (No. 1177042059).
This transaction, according to the state, constitutes money laundering under Section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), as it involved funds allegedly obtained through unlawful means.
Kumawu Farm Project Withdrawals
The indictment also references questionable transactions from the Kumawu Farm Project account (No. 1018631542212), totaling GH¢74 million. Prosecutors say the withdrawals were made without being applied to the project’s intended agricultural use.
The alleged unauthorised withdrawals include:
GH¢55 million on September 30, 2022
GH¢15 million on October 20, 2023
GH¢4 million on January 24, 2024
All, prosecutors argue, were diverted for purposes unrelated to the project.
The Attorney-General’s Department is expected to lead the prosecution when the case is called before the Accra High Court in the coming days. Evidence from forensic audits, bank records, and digital payment trails will reportedly be tendered to substantiate the charges.
Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, who led the National Service Authority until early 2025, has not yet entered a plea. If convicted, he could face significant custodial sentences and asset recovery orders under Ghana’s criminal and anti-money laundering laws.
