Former head of the National Service has entered a plea of not guilty regarding financial offenses and has been granted bail set at GH¢800 million

The previous Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei-Assibey Antwi, has entered a plea of not guilty to all 14 charges of financial crimes filed against him by the state. These charges include allegations of causing financial loss, theft, and money laundering, which total over GHC1.5 billion. On Thursday, Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, who is presiding over the case, granted bail to the accused in the amount of GHC800 million. Six sureties are required to provide landed property that is equivalent to the bail amount as collateral. Among the conditions of the bail, the court mandated Mr. Osei-Assibey to surrender all passports to the Court Registry and to be placed on the stop list of the Ghana Immigration Service until the case is conclusively resolved. Additionally, he is required to report to the Police Headquarters on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Mr. Osei-Assibey, who held the position of principal spending officer and was a signatory to the NSA’s accounts, is accused of having authorized payments to fictitious names, resulting in substantial financial losses to the state. The charges encompass counts of theft and causing financial loss, with individual amounts varying from GHC 516,000 to GHC 55 million. The accused’s counsel, Osei Owusu, contended that his client has been unfairly maligned in the media and asserted his innocence, emphasizing that he has fully cooperated with investigators and does not pose a flight risk. The defense requested bail, characterizing the accused as a respected public servant who has served the Republic in multiple roles. Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai did not contest the bail request but urged the court to take into account the seriousness of the charges and the large sums involved, warning that the recent behavior of the accused raised concerns regarding his commitment to appear in court. The court has instructed the prosecution to submit all necessary disclosures, with the next hearing scheduled for December 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.