Gifty Oware-Mensah
Gifty Oware-Mensah, a former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), has been released by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) following her detention for her alleged involvement in some ‘ghost names’ on the NSA payroll.
The current member of the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was arrested and detained by the NIB over the weekend and initial efforts by her lawyer and other individuals to get her released on bail proved futile.
DAILY GUIDE has gathered that she underwent interrogations by officers of the Bureau and was later released on an enquiry bail following her cooperation with investigators.
It is not clear what her role in the alleged scandal is, and the offences for which she had been arrested by the NIB.
It is also not clear whether a cautioned statement had been taken from her or if any charges had been preferred against her following her arrest, detention and subsequent interrogation.
But it is expected that she will be invited back to the NIB for further interrogations over the coming days or weeks regarding the scandal.
Return
Gifty Oware-Mensah returned to Ghana on March 4, 2025, after she had been out of the country since the December 7, 2024 election.
Her absence led some to speculate she was absconding from justice over her alleged role in the about 80,000 ‘ghost names’ scandal at the NSA, where monthly allowances were allegedly paid to non-existent personnel over a period of time.
Her return coincided with the arrest of former Deputy Director of Operations at the NSA, Kwaku Ohene Gyan, popularly known as Osonoba, who was detained by the NIB in connection with the scandal.
Moments after her arrival in the country, Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, indicated that the former NSA employee was willing to submit herself to NIB for any investigation in respect of the alleged scandal.
He clarified that Gifty Oware-Mensah was not on the run but rather on holiday, pointing out that social media escalated the rumours of her absconding from justice.
He said Madam Oware-Mensah’s legal team was in contact with the NIB, and whatever the NIB has against her would have to be done within due process of law.
He also stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not against accountability, and if the new government needs former appointees to explain certain matters, it is within their rights to do so, and if it needs investigations, there will be no problem.
“What is important is to follow due process, and once due process is being followed, why not,” he queried.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also stated that as far as he knew, no state officials harassed Madam Oware-Mensah on her arrival in Ghana.
‘Wanted’
President John Dramani Mahama during his maiden State of the Nation Address indicated that some individuals involved in the National Service Authority’s financial scandal have absconded.
He said he had directed the security agencies to declare the suspects as wanted, explaining that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team has been tasked to bring the perpetrators of the NSA ‘ghost names’ scandal to book.
He said those involved in the scandal must be held accountable, adding that “such brazen theft of public funds must be stopped and punished.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak