Trial over NSA “Ghost Names” adjourned to February 25 for charge amendment

The criminal trial of Osei Assibey Antwi, former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), has been adjourned to February 25 to enable the Republic to file an amended charge sheet following the submission of a new audit report.

The matter, which was scheduled for a Case Management Conference (CMC), could not proceed after prosecutors informed the court that the Auditor-General of Ghana had completed a performance audit into the operations of the NSA.

According to the prosecution, the audit report was submitted to the Attorney-General’s Department on February 16—just a day before the scheduled hearing.

State attorneys told the court that a preliminary review of the Auditor-General’s findings suggests that the existing charges require amendment. However, due to the timing of the report’s submission, the Republic was unable to file the revised charge sheet ahead of the hearing.

The prosecution, therefore, prayed the court for a short adjournment to allow for a comprehensive review of the audit findings and the formal amendment of the charges.

The court granted the request and adjourned proceedings to February 25, when the accused is expected to take his plea on the amended charge sheet.

Mr Assibey Antwi is facing multiple counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing and money laundering, in connection with the alleged “ghost names” scandal at the NSA.

Prosecutors allege that during his tenure, allowances were paid to thousands of non-existent national service personnel, resulting in substantial financial losses to the state.

He is further accused of unlawfully transferring public funds into personal accounts and authorising withdrawals from NSA project funds without lawful justification.

The former NSA Executive Director has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges.