NSA Trial: Charges Against Assibey Antwi Increased to 21, New Allegations Added
Amended Charge Sheet Raises Counts to 21, Revises Financial Loss and Adds New Allegations Including e-Zwich Transfers and Kumawu Farm Project Mismanagement
- Amended Charges Increase from 14 to 21 Counts
- Financial Loss Reduced to GH¢431.76 Million, New Details Added
- New Allegations Include Personal e-Zwich Transfers and Kumawu Farm Project Mismanagement
The prosecution has filed an amended charge sheet in the criminal case against former National Service Authority (NSA) Executive Director Osei Assibey Antwi, increasing the number of charges and revising key details of the alleged offences.
The updated charge sheet, filed in 2026, raises the total counts against Mr. Assibey Antwi to 21, up from 14 in the 2025 filing.
Revised Financial Loss Allegations
A significant change involves the principal charge of causing financial loss to the state. The initial claim alleged that Mr. Assibey Antwi authorised payments totaling GH¢500,861,744.02 to more than 60,000 alleged ghost national service personnel.
The amended charges reduce the alleged loss to GH¢431,761,556.76, stating that funds were authorised for payment to “non-service personnel and unverified individuals,” rather than specifying “over 60,000 ghost names.”
Investigations revealed that 63,672 unverified registrants were submitted to the payment system between 2018 and 2024 for service allowances or vendor payments. Between August 2021 and February 2025, the NSA allegedly disbursed GH¢431,761,556.76 to individuals who had not undertaken national service or whose identities could not be verified.
Role of the Accused
Prosecutors say Mr. Assibey Antwi, who served as NSA Executive Director from September 2021 to January 2025, authorised personnel lists submitted to the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS) for monthly allowances.
As principal spending officer, he oversaw daily operations, was a signatory to NSA accounts, and handled payments to validated personnel and marketplace vendors, with deductions applied from personnel allowances.
Alleged Personal e-Zwich Transfers
Several counts allege that funds meant for service personnel were diverted to an e-Zwich card registered in Mr. Assibey Antwi’s name, receiving GH¢8,256,000 between 2022 and 2024. Investigators say he failed to disclose the card during the handover of office, denied its existence during interrogation, but it was later recovered from his Dome residence on March 25, 2025, with evidence showing he personally withdrew funds.
Vendor Payments and Alleged Refunds
The prosecution claims that NSA marketplace payments were made to vendors without services rendered, with some allegedly refunding money directly to Mr. Assibey Antwi in cash. For example, GH¢7,704,880.92 was reportedly paid to Direct Savings and Loans despite no services being provided.
New Charges: Kumawu Farm Project
Additional counts relate to the Sekyere-Kumawu Economic Enclave (Farm) Project, where GH¢106 million was transferred from the NSA Control Account to a project account between August 2022 and June 2024. Contracts for land clearing and irrigation were awarded, but prosecutors allege the project did not deliver value for money, resulting in an estimated loss of GH¢61,289,843.30.
Other new counts accuse the former Executive Director of improper payment of public funds under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), while maintaining allegations of stealing, causing financial loss to the Republic, and money laundering.
Mr. Assibey Antwi was granted bail under existing conditions, and the case has been adjourned to April 13, 2026, for a case management conference.
