Trial of former NSA Boss Osei Assibey Antwi adjourned over new audit report

The criminal trial of Osei Assibey Antwi, former Executive Director of the National Service Authority, has been adjourned to February 25 to allow the Republic to amend its charges following the submission of a new audit report.

The case, which was scheduled for a Case Management Conference, could not proceed after prosecutors informed the court that the Auditor General had completed a performance audit into the operations of the National Service Authority.

According to the prosecution, the audit report was submitted to the Attorney General’s Department on February 16, just one day before the hearing.

State attorneys explained that a preliminary assessment of the findings indicates that the existing charges would need to be revised. However, because the report was received shortly before the court date, the Republic was unable to file an amended charge sheet in time.

The prosecution therefore asked the court for a brief adjournment to enable a thorough review of the audit findings and the formal amendment of the charges.

The court granted the request and rescheduled proceedings to February 25, when the accused is expected to enter a plea to the amended charges.

Mr Assibey Antwi is facing several counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing and money laundering, in relation to the alleged ghost names scandal at the National Service Authority.

Prosecutors claim that during his tenure, allowances were paid to thousands of non existent national service personnel, leading to significant financial losses to the state. He is also accused of transferring public funds into personal accounts and authorising withdrawals from NSA project funds without lawful justification.

The former Executive Director has pleaded not guilty to the original charges.