GH¢38m NSA trial: First prosecution witness testifies
He told the court his unit received a letter dated 24 October 2022 titled “Acquisition of Household Items”, issued by the NSA and signed by Ms Oware-Mensah, whom he said acted in the capacity of Executive Director at the time.
The state has opened its case against former National Service Authority (NSA) Deputy Executive Director Gifty Oware-Mensah, calling its first witness in proceedings linked to an alleged GH¢38 million loss to the public purse.
The hearing is taking place at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, with Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay presiding. The Attorney-General’s first witness, Gilbert Sebe-Yeboah, was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa.
Mr Sebe-Yeboah said he knows the accused and confirmed he had adopted a witness statement prepared for him by the Republic as his evidence-in-chief. Documents attached to that statement have not yet been admitted.
He told the court his unit received a letter dated 24 October 2022 titled “Acquisition of Household Items”, issued by the NSA and signed by Ms Oware-Mensah, whom he said acted in the capacity of Executive Director at the time.
The letter, admitted without objection, was marked Exhibit A. Its attachment — a list of household items grouped into three selectable packages, described as “bouquets” for National Service Personnel — was admitted as Exhibit A1.
The witness further testified that after credit committee approval, a Master Agreement dated 20 February 2023 was executed between the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the NSA. He said Ms Oware-Mensah signed for the NSA while he signed for ADB. The agreement was admitted as Exhibit B.
A copy of the NSA statement of account covering January 2017 to 1 March 2025 was also tendered and admitted as Exhibit C.
Earlier, defence counsel Gary Nimako Marfo objected on constitutional grounds to a previous court directive requiring the accused to file the names and addresses of witnesses she intends to call.
He argued the order — said to be based on the 2015 Practice Direction on Disclosures and Case Management in Criminal Proceedings — conflicts with Articles 19(2)(c) and 19(10) of the 1992 Constitution, citing the presumption of innocence and the protection against compulsion to testify.
Justice Kocuvie-Tay noted the direction of the arguments and advised the defence to formally place the court on notice so it can rule on the constitutional issue. The court then ordered that the trial should proceed.
Ms Oware-Mensah has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including wilfully causing financial loss to the state, stealing, money laundering, and using public office for profit.
The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2026 at 12:00 noon for continuation.
