The High Court in Accra has indefinitely adjourned the corruption trial involving former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, and his former deputy, Gifty Oware-Mensah, after both failed to appear in court on Friday, October 17.
Counsel for Mr. Assibey Antwi informed the court that his client had been instructed to report to police investigators in Kumasi, where he is currently assisting with ongoing investigations. The defence also noted that they had not yet received the official charge sheet detailing the specific allegations against him.
In the case of Mrs. Oware-Mensah, her legal team submitted a two-day medical excuse duty, stating she was unwell and unable to attend the proceedings. The court accepted the explanation and recorded her absence accordingly.
With both accused persons absent, the presiding judge adjourned the case sine die—without setting a fixed date—pending further communication from the court registry.
Overview of Charges
Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, who previously led the NSA following its transition from the National Service Secretariat, faces 14 charges, including:
Causing financial loss to the state
Stealing
Money laundering
Prosecutors allege that his actions led to the loss of over GHS600 million through irregular procurement practices and unauthorized financial transactions.
His former deputy, Gifty Oware-Mensah, is also facing multiple charges, including:
Stealing
Money laundering
Abuse of office
She is accused of playing a key role in the misappropriation of funds earmarked for National Service projects and operations.
The high-profile case has drawn national attention, given the stature of the individuals involved and the scale of the alleged financial loss to the state. The next steps in the legal process will depend on further directions from the court.
