Osei Assibey Antwi
Former Executive Director of National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi looked dispirited yesterday when he left a High Court in Accra, where he was granted a whopping GH¢800 million bail for allegedly stealing about GH¢650 million from the state.
He was dragged before the court on allegations of authorising payments of allowances to over 60,000 non-existent national service personnel between August 2021 and February 2025, causing the state financial loss in the process.
He has been charged with a total of 14 counts of stealing, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering.
Osei Assibey has been accused of causing financial loss of GH¢8,256,000 to the state by authorising transfers from the NSA’s Control Account to e-zwich card number 1177042059 which is registered in his name.
He is again accused of laundering the GH¢8,256,000 by diverting it into his e-zwich account, knowing the money formed part of unlawful activity.
The former Mayor of Kumasi is also facing charges of causing financial loss of GH¢55 million belonging to the NSA by authorising the withdrawal of the said amount from Project Account number 1018631542212 for the Kumawu Farm Project “without expending it on the project.”
He appeared before the court yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to all the 14 counts of offences levelled against him.
His lawyer, Osei Owusu, pleaded with the court to grant him bail pending trial, indicating that the accused person is in a hurry to prove his innocence before the court.
He pledged total cooperation on the part of the accused and his legal team “for an expeditious trial that will lead to his acquittal and discharge.”
He further pointed out that Osei Assibey is a known figure as indicated by the prosecution, having served the nation in various capacities and shall not in any way violate any term imposed on him to stand trial.
“We pray that the accused person be admitted to self recognisance bail so that he can enjoy all the freedoms that the constitution guarantees him to defend himself properly before you,” Mr. Owusu added.
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, did not oppose the grant of bail but told the court to take into consideration that “under the watch of the accused person the nation cannot find GH¢1.5 billion.”
He also urged the court to consider the gravity of the offence, the amount of money lost and whether the accused person is likely to present himself for the trial.
“Persons with sufficient means and who are faced with offences of grave weight as in this case, present a much, much higher flight risk. We pray that the court will take this into account in determining the bail conditions of the accused persons,” Dr. Srem-Sai added.
Justice Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie, the presiding judge, granted Osei Assibey bail of GH¢800 million with six sureties who are to present security with landed property equivalent to the bail sum.
The sureties are to deposit copies of their ID cards with the registry of the court while the accused is to deposit his passport with the registrar.
The accused was further placed on the Ghana Immigration Stop List pending the determination of this case. The trial was adjourned to December 2 for case management.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak