Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), was granted a bail modification from GH¢800 million to GH¢623 million in the NSS ghost names controversy case by the Accra High Court.
This came after his attorneys, lead by Alex Osei Owusu, claimed that his client had fulfilled the requirements of the bond, which included turning in his passports to the registrar, though there were some difficulties.
Despite not being against bail, the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Dufie Prempeh, rejected the motion for a bail variation.
On October 30, Justice Kizita Naa Koowaa Quashie awarded the former NSA Director GH¢800 million in bail with six sureties to be justified.
He applied to the High Court for a bail variation since he couldn’t meet the requirements, and Justice Marie-Louise Simmons, the judge relieving the substantive judge, gave it some thought.
In her decision, Justice Mrs. Simmons stated that she had taken into account the arguments presented and, based on the procedures submitted, changed the bond amount from GH¢800 million to GH¢623 million, which is the same figure as the prosecution alleges he stole.
The court stated that all other previously established conditions remain in effect, save from the different bail amount.
On October 30, Antwi entered a not guilty plea to 14 charges, including one count of money laundering, six counts of theft, and seven counts of causing financial loss under sections 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044) and 179A(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He must provide six sureties in addition to the bail amount, and the security for the bail amount must be supported by landed property valued at the bail amount.
Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie presided over the court, which also mandated that he be added to the Ghana Immigration Service stop list.
Copies of the sureties’ identification cards must be deposited in the court registry.
Additionally, the accused must appear at the NIB headquarters on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
In addition, the court mandated that Antwi turn in all pertinent passports and put them in the court register.
The case has been postponed until December 1, 2025, and the prosecution has been directed to submit its evidence.
During his tenure from August 2021 to February 2025, Mr. Assibey Antwi is accused of embezzling state funds.
The Attorney-General claims that Antwi approved the payment of GH¢500.86 million in allowances to more than 60,000 fictitious (ghost) national service members between August 2021 and February 2025.
Source: newsthemegh.com