Ex-National Service boss pleads not guilty to financial crimes, granted GH¢800m bail

Osei-Assibey Antwi, the former Director-General of the National Service Authority, has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of financial crimes, including causing financial loss, stealing, and money laundering, amounting to over GHC1.5 billion.

The presiding judge, Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, granted the accused bail of GHC800 million with six sureties, requiring landed property equivalent to the bail amount as security.

Pursuant to the bail conditions, the court ordered Mr. Osei-Assibey to deposit all passports at the Court Registry and be placed on the Ghana Immigration Service stop list, pending the final determination of the case. He is also required to report to the Police Headquarters on the first and third Wednesdays of every month.

Mr. Osei-Assibey, who served as the principal spending officer and signatory to the NSA’s accounts, is alleged to have authorized payments to ghost names, resulting in significant financial losses to the state. The charges include counts of stealing and causing financial loss, with individual sums ranging from GHC 516,000 to GHC 55 million.

Counsel for the accused, Osei Owusu, argued that his client had been unjustly vilified in the media and maintained his innocence, stressing that he had cooperated fully with investigators and was not a flight risk.

The defence prayed the court for bail, describing the accused as a respected public servant who had served the Republic in various capacities.

Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai chose not to oppose the bail application, instead urging the court to consider the gravity of the offenses and the significant financial sums at stake, cautioning that the accused’s recent actions had raised doubts about his commitment to appearing before the court.

The court has directed the prosecution to file all relevant disclosures, with the case set to continue on December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.