Story By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that 12 individuals will be charged in connection with a major financial scandal at the National Service Scheme (NSS), which resulted in the loss of over GH₵548 million.
Speaking at a press briefing on the government’s anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL), Dr Ayine revealed that investigations into the scandal have been completed and legal proceedings are set to begin.
“Having concluded our investigations, we will be filing charges against 12 suspects who worked as directors and staff of the National Service Authority,” the Attorney General stated.
The list of accused persons includes top former officials of the National Service Authority, with Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director, named as the alleged mastermind of the operation. Other individuals facing charges are:
– Mustapha Ussif, a former Executive Director
– Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director
– Osei Assibey Antwi, former Director General
– Kwaku Ohene Gyan, former Deputy Executive Director for Operations
– Abraham Bismarck Gaise, former Internal Auditor
– Kwaku Adjei, an Account Officer
– Iddrisu Abubakar, former Head of Accounts
– Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi, former Regional Director for Koforidua
– Prince Awuku, a District Director
– Jacob Yawson, Management Information Systems Administrator in the Northern Region
– Two additional unnamed suspects are reportedly involved and will be added once formally identified.
Dr Ayine disclosed that Stephen Kwabena Gyamfi was re-arrested earlier in the day after new evidence surfaced. “We have discovered new accounts that contained deposits. Based on this, he was picked up again this morning,” he noted.
According to the Attorney General, the suspects manipulated systems and processes at the NSS over several years to siphon funds meant for national service operations.
“This is a serious breach of public trust and accountability. We are committed to retrieving every cedi and ensuring those responsible face justice,” he emphasized.