NSS ‘Ghost Names’ Case: Assibey Antwi’s Lawyer Says Client Has Not Been Served With Charges

Five days after news broke about charges filed against the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, his legal team has told the Criminal Division of the High Court that he has not yet been formally served with the charge sheet — explaining his absence from court today.

On Monday, October 13, 2025, the Attorney-General filed charges against Mr. Antwi, accusing him of authorising payments totaling GH¢500,861,744.02 to more than 60,000 non-existent (ghost) national service personnel.

Mr. Antwi, who resides in Kumasi, was expected to appear before the court to respond to 14 counts of causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering.

When the case was called around noon on Thursday, October 16, his lawyer, Paa Kwesi Kuboadzi, appeared in court wearing traditional African attire instead of the usual black suit, robe, and wig.

He told Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie that he was informed of the court session barely an hour before it started.

“Unfortunately, we were not given any prior notice,” Mr. Kuboadzi said. “I was called about an hour ago to appear before the court, which is why I am not robed.”

He therefore requested that the prosecution give the defense adequate notice for future appearances.

Prosecution’s Response

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, explained that while the charge sheet had been filed, the prosecution was unaware that the case had been scheduled for hearing today.

“We did not have a hearing date. My instructions are that we will file a hearing notice for the next appearance,” she told the court.

The DPP also requested that Mr. Antwi, who currently reports to investigators in Kumasi, be directed to report to investigators in Accra moving forward.

She assured the court that the prosecution would formally serve the accused with the charge sheet and accompanying facts, and notify him when to appear for the first official hearing.

Justice Quarshie, however, stated that the court could not fix a date until the prosecution properly arraigns the accused.

“The court will await the Republic to arraign the accused,” she ruled.

Background to the Case

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has charged Osei Assibey Antwi and the former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Gifty Oware Mensah, over alleged payments to 69,934 ghost national service personnel.

Prosecutors allege that between August 2021 and February 2025, Mr. Antwi authorised payments amounting to over GH¢500 million in allowances to fictitious names.

Mrs. Oware Mensah, on her part, is accused of generating 9,934 fake service names through the NSA’s Central Management System (CMS). She allegedly took control of Blocks of Life Consult Limited, making her mother’s driver a director, and used the company to secure a facility from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

According to the prosecution, she claimed the company had supplied goods on hire-purchase to the fake service personnel and used their supposed allowances as collateral — a scheme that allegedly enabled her to fraudulently obtain GH¢38,458,248.87 over 11 months.

She has been charged with five counts including willfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and money laundering.

Both accused persons are expected to appear before the High Court in Accra later this week for their pleas to be taken.