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NSS scandal: Gifty Oware-Mensah granted bail
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A former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has been granted bail following her detention by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) over the allegations of payroll fraud during her tenure at the Authority.
Sources at the NIB confirmed to JoyNews that Oware-Mensah, who is also an Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), was discharged on Saturday after several hours of questioning.
However, the specific terms of her bail remain unclear.
Oware-Mensah’s arrest follows a widely reported investigation into the alleged embezzlement of funds at the NSA, specifically relating to fraudulent payroll activities that occurred while she was in office.
The case has attracted considerable public attention, with many closely watching the developments surrounding the former NSA official’s involvement in the scandal.
Background
The NIB is probing her work at the NSS over allegations that thousands of ghost names were used to defraud the state of millions of cedis in allowances.
The government says it has uncovered a significant discrepancy in the National Service payroll, revealing 81,885 suspected ghost names.
This figure represents the difference between the actual number of active personnel and the payroll data submitted by the previous management of the National Service Authority (NSA).
According to the latest findings, there are currently 98,145 active service personnel, a stark contrast to the 180,030 names presented for allowance payment in 2024.
“This figure is 81,885 less than the 180,030 names presented by the previous management of the Authority for allowance payment in 2024,” the statement read
The 81,885 names that have been flagged as potentially fraudulent or inflated could represent a major misuse of public funds.
As the Deputy Executive Director, Gifty Oware-Mensah had responsibility for administration and finance of the NSS and is expected to be a key witness in the ongoing investigations.
The alleged payroll fraud is reported to have cost the state a staggering GHȼ50 million each month.
It is unclear how long the alleged scheme went on.
The NIB recently detained and questioned Kwaku Ohene Djan, also a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, over the raging allegations.
According to the Fourth Estate, which made the revelation, top officials of the NSA created thousands of ghost names and accounts presented as persons serving the nation under the scheme and collecting monthly allowances through this account, which ends up in their personal pockets.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken note of public allegations of extortion and related conduct made against the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The allegations were made by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
In a brief statement, the OSP said it has also received a joint petition submitted by two persons, as well as two separate petitions from other persons, in relation to the same allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the OSP will assess the case and determine whether it falls within its statutory mandate and whether further investigative action is warranted,” the statement said.
The development comes amid a heated public feud between the Minority in Parliament and the leadership of GoldBod over the operations of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority, led by Afenyo-Markin, has accused GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of causing a loss of over $1.7 billion, citing the International Monetary Fund’s August 2026 report. The Minority has vowed to pursue the matter as Parliament has reconvened for an emergency sitting.
GoldBod, on the other hand, has rejected claims by some NPP MPs, including Tano South MP Dr Gideon Boako, that it owes the Bank of Ghana GH¢1 billion in overdrafts, describing the claim as “false and malicious.”
In the latest twist, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has accused the Minority Leader of extortion and related conduct, an allegation that has triggered petitions to the OSP.
The OSP is mandated under Act 959 to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
