The former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, has been charged with 14 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering, in connection with the alleged misappropriation of more than GH¢600 million in public funds.
According to a charge sheet filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr. Assibey Antwi allegedly authorised payments to over 60,000 non-existent national service personnel and diverted several millions of cedis into personal accounts during his tenure between August 2021 and February 2025.
He is facing multiple counts under sections 179A(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).
Ghost Names and Unauthorised Payments
Prosecutors claim that the former NSA boss caused a financial loss of GH¢500.8 million by approving allowances for over 60,000 ghost service personnel between August 2021 and February 2025.
He also faces six counts of stealing, accused of dishonestly appropriating various sums 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
Transfers to Personal Account
The charge sheet further alleges that between January 2022 and December 2024, Mr. Assibey Antwi caused an additional GH¢8.26 million loss by authorising transfers from the NSA’s Control Account to his personal e-zwich card account (No. 1177042059).
This transaction also forms the basis of a money laundering charge, with prosecutors asserting that he knowingly received proceeds from unlawful activity.
Kumawu Farm Project Allegations
Additionally, prosecutors accuse Mr. Assibey Antwi of making unauthorised withdrawals from the Kumawu Farm Project account (No. 1018631542212), totalling GH¢74 million, which were allegedly not used for their intended purpose.
The withdrawals reportedly include:
- GH¢55 million on September 30, 2022
- GH¢15 million on October 20, 2023
- GH¢4 million on January 24, 2024
The case is expected to be heard at the Accra High Court, where prosecutors will present evidence to substantiate the charges.
Mr. Assibey Antwi, who served as Executive Director of the NSA until early 2025, has not yet entered a plea.
