Gifty Oware Mensah pleads not guilty to defrauding GH¢38m, bail set at GH¢10m

Gifty Oware Mensah, a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), has entered a not guilty plea to charges of causing financial loss to the state, totaling more than GH¢38 million.

Mrs. Oware Mensah appeared before the Accra High Court on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, where she was formally charged with five counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, money laundering, and using public office for profit.

Prosecutors allege that during her tenure, the accused created approximately 9,934 fictitious National Service personnel and unlawfully profited from the monthly allowances disbursed under those ghost names, resulting in financial losses exceeding GH¢38 million to the government.

The case forms part of ongoing efforts by state authorities to clamp down on administrative and financial irregularities within public institutions, particularly those involving payroll fraud and ghost name syndicates.

Bail Granted

Counsel for Mrs. Oware Mensah, Nanabayin Ackon, moved an application for bail, arguing that his client, a responsible public servant with a fixed place of abode, had no intention of interfering with investigations.

Ackon maintained that Mrs. Oware Mensah had cooperated fully with investigators and posed no flight risk. Following consideration of the application, the court granted bail in the sum of GH¢10 million, with three sureties, two of whom must be justified.

As part of the bail conditions, the court directed Mrs. Oware Mensah to deposit all her passports with the court’s registry and to report to the police on the first Tuesday and Thursday of every month until the case is determined.

The prosecution is expected to file and serve all witness statements and evidentiary documents before the next hearing date. The case has been adjourned to November 18, 2025, for case management.