Osei Assibey sweats, still unable to meet GH¢623million bail weeks after reduction

Former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, remains in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau as he continues to struggle to satisfy a GH¢623 million bail granted by the High Court in Accra.

His difficulty persists even after the court reduced the original GH¢800 million bail, granted on October 30, 2025, when he first appeared before Justice Kizita Naa Quarshie and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mr Osei Assibey faces 14 counts, including stealing, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering. Prosecutors accuse him of siphoning about GH¢650 million from state funds during his tenure.

He is alleged to have authorised the transfer of GH¢8,256,000 from the NSA's Control Account into an e-zwich card registered in his name, and to have laundered the same amount by knowingly diverting funds linked to criminal activity. He also faces accusations of causing a loss of GH¢55 million to the NSA by withdrawing money for the Kumawu Farm Project without using it for the intended purpose.

Under the initial bail conditions, six sureties were required to provide security backed by landed property equal in value to the GH¢800 million sum. The accused was also ordered to deposit his passports with the registrar and placed on the Ghana Immigration Service Stop List while the case proceeds.

Arguing that the bail amount was excessive and punitive, his lawyers applied for a reduction. On November 12, 2025, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons partially granted the request, lowering the figure to GH¢623 million but maintaining all other conditions.

Nearly three weeks later, the former Kumasi Mayor has still been unable to execute the bail. His lawyers have filed yet another application for further variation, hoping for a more attainable amount that will allow him to return home to his family.

However, proceedings stalled when it emerged that the Office of the Attorney General had not been served with the new application. The court has therefore adjourned the matter to December 11, 2025, for consideration.

Meanwhile, the substantive trial has also been delayed. Yesterday, prosecutors informed the court that they were unable to meet the deadline to file disclosures and witness statements due to challenges involving their witnesses. The court has now adjourned case management to January 19, 2026.

Defence lawyers expressed similar constraints, indicating that they were still awaiting the prosecution’s documents.