Hot Source
The Accra High Court has granted GHC800 million bail to former National Service Authority (NSA) Director-General Osei-Assibey Antwi, who is facing 14 counts of financial crimes, including stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state exceeding GHC1.5 billion.
Mr. Osei-Assibey pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared before Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie on Thursday. Prosecutors allege that, during his tenure as the Authority’s principal spending officer and signatory to its accounts, he approved payments to non-existent beneficiaries, a scheme that allegedly led to vast financial losses.
The alleged amounts in question range from GHC516,000 to GHC55 million across several transactions.
Under the bail conditions, the former NSA boss must deposit all passports with the court, report twice monthly to the Police Headquarters, and remain on the Ghana Immigration Service stop list. His six sureties are also required to provide landed property valued at the full bail amount.
Counsel for the accused, Osei Owusu, described his client as a loyal and law-abiding public servant, insisting that “he has been unjustly vilified in the media.” He said Mr. Osei-Assibey had cooperated with investigators and posed no risk of absconding.
Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, while not opposing the bail application, urged the court to consider “the gravity of the offences and the significant sums involved,” adding that the accused’s recent conduct raised doubts about his readiness to stand trial.
The case — one of the most high-profile public sector corruption prosecutions in recent years has sparked discussions about financial accountability in public institutions and the effectiveness of internal audit systems.
The court has ordered the prosecution to file all disclosures, with the next hearing fixed for December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
The post Court grants GHC800m bail to former NSA boss over GHC1.5 bn financial scandal appeared first on The Herald ghana.
