By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The former Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei-Assibey Antwi, has pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts of financial crimes brought against him by the state, including charges of causing financial loss, stealing, and money laundering amounting to more than GHC1.5 billion.
Presiding over the case, Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie on Thursday granted the accused bail in the sum of GHC800 million, with six sureties required to provide landed property equivalent to the bail amount as security.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Mr. Osei-Assibey to deposit all passports at the Court Registry and to be placed on the Ghana Immigration Service stop list pending the final determination of the case.
He is also 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, leading to 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 did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to consider the gravity of the offences and the significant sums involved, cautioning that the accused’s recent conduct raised questions about his willingness to appear before the court.
The court has directed the prosecution to file all disclosures, with the case scheduled to continue on December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
source: CitiNewsroom.com
