NSS scandal: Gifty Oware-Mensah used personnel allowance as collateral for GHS30m loan — AG

Former Deputy Director-General of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah, allegedly used national service personnel allowances as collateral to secure a GHS30 million loan from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) at a 23% interest rate.

This was revealed by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, during a press briefing on Friday, June 13, as he provided updates on the ongoing investigations into the over GHS548 million ghost names scandal at the National Service Authority (NSA).

According to the Attorney General, Mrs. Oware-Mensah allegedly registered a company called Blocks of Life Consult using the personal details of other individuals without their consent and falsely presented the company to ADB as a legitimate vendor.

Her husband, a lawyer, was also named as a director.

“Gifty Oware-Mensah created and executed a meticulously detailed plan using national service personnel allowances as security to obtain a loan of GHS30,698,218.69 from the Agricultural Development Bank at an interest rate of 23%.

“She achieved this by using other people’s information to register a company called Blocks of Life Consult without their knowledge or permission. She presented Blocks of Life Consult through one Akwesi Ofori-Mintah to an official of ADB and listed her husband, Mr. Peter Mensah, a lawyer, as a director of the said company,” Dr. Ayine said.

The company claimed to supply home appliances to national service personnel, with the NSA responsible for making monthly deductions and repayments.

However, the Attorney General stated that there is no record of Blocks of Life Consult being a registered vendor with the government.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney General has indicated that it will file charges in the first week of July against twelve suspects, including Mrs. Oware-Mensah, former NSS Executive Director Mustafa Yusif and former Director General Osei Assibey Antwi.