The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has filed criminal charges against the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Mrs. Gifty Oware-Mensah, over alleged financial misconduct amounting to GH¢38.4 million.

The charges, filed at the High Court in Accra, accuse Mrs. Oware-Mensah of stealing, willfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, and money laundering.

According to court documents sighted by Voice of Buluk, the alleged offences occurred between February 2022 and March 2024 while Mrs. Oware-Mensah served as Deputy Executive Director of the NSA.

Details of the Charges

Count One – Stealing

Mrs. Oware-Mensah is accused of dishonestly appropriating GH¢31,502,091.40, funds belonging to the National Service Authority, by transferring the money to a private company, Blocks of Life Consult, allegedly for her personal benefit.
This offence is contrary to Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Count Two – Willfully Causing Financial Loss

She allegedly caused a financial loss of GH¢31,502,091.40 to the Republic by authorizing payments to Blocks of Life Consult, a company of which she is said to be the ultimate beneficial owner.
The funds were purportedly for the supply of goods on hire-purchase to National Service Personnel — goods that were never supplied.
This charge is under Section 179A(3)(a) of Act 29.

Count Three – Additional Financial Loss

Mrs. Oware-Mensah is further accused of causing an additional GH¢6,956,157.47 in financial loss to the state.
This amount represents interest charged by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) on the unauthorized loan of GH¢31.5 million approved for Blocks of Life Consult.

Count Four – Using Public Office for Profit

The prosecution alleges that the former deputy boss abused her office for personal gain by receiving GH¢31.5 million through Blocks of Life Consult from ADB, knowing she was not authorized to receive the funds personally.
This offence falls under Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Count Five – Money Laundering

The final charge accuses Mrs. Oware-Mensah of money laundering contrary to Section 1(2)(a)(i) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).
Prosecutors claim she transferred the GH¢31.5 million from the NSA hire-purchase escrow account at ADB to Blocks of Life Consult to disguise the illicit origin of the funds, knowing they were proceeds of unlawful activity.

Next Steps

The Attorney-General’s Office has described the case as a significant step in its commitment to fighting corruption and financial impropriety within public institutions.
Mrs. Oware-Mensah is expected to make her first court appearance in the coming days as the case proceeds.

If found guilty, she could face severe custodial sentences and possible forfeiture of assets under Ghana’s anti-corruption and money-laundering laws.

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