Gifty Oware-Mensah trial: ADB witness says bank processed initial NSA transfer to avoid losing hire purchase deal

The Head of Consumer Finance at the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Gilbert Serbeh-Yeboah, has told the Accra High Court that the bank proceeded with an initial transfer under the National Service Authority (NSA)-ADB hire purchase facility because it risked losing the entire transaction due to implementation delays.

Mr Serbeh-Yeboah, who is testifying as a prosecution witness in the ongoing NSA scandal case involving former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, Gifty Oware-Mensah, said the accused had become frustrated with delays in the arrangement and threatened to withdraw from it.

During cross-examination by defence counsel Gary Nimako Marfo, the witness explained that discussions between ADB and the NSA began in October 2022, but by February 2023 the transaction had still not been executed.

Mrs Oware-Mensah is facing charges related to causing financial loss to the state amounting to more than GH¢31 million. The prosecution alleges that she improperly authorised a GH¢31.50 million loan facility for Blocks of Life Consult, resulting in the NSA paying GH¢6.95 million in interest, from which she allegedly benefited.

She is also accused of stealing and laundering GH¢31.50 million by allegedly transferring funds from the NSA hire purchase escrow account at ADB to Blocks of Life Consult to conceal what prosecutors describe as proceeds of crime.

Addressing questions about the initial transfer, Mr Serbeh-Yeboah rejected suggestions that the bank acted without receiving a transfer instruction.

“The accused was angry with us and we were losing the whole arrangement,” he told the court.

He explained that the bank subsequently approved an initial disbursement of GH¢193,300 after reviewing revenue figures submitted by the accused.

According to him, Mrs Oware-Mensah later assured the bank that the arrangement would proceed and that the necessary transfer instructions would be provided for subsequent transactions.

“The transfer request did not come that same day, it came on the third,” he said.

The witness also confirmed that all payments made to Blocks of Life Consult Limited were processed through the NSA hire purchase account.

He told the court that a transfer of GH¢148,841 made to Blocks of Life on February 22, 2023, formed part of the earlier GH¢193,300 disbursement made under the facility.

Mr Serbeh-Yeboah further confirmed that ADB deducted an upfront commission before effecting the transfer.

Asked about the bank's earnings from the transaction, he stated: “ADB earned a commission of GH¢44,459, being the 23 per cent commission per the master agreement.”

He added that the commission was earned in accordance with the facility agreement.

The witness also testified that transfers to Blocks of Life were made based on written instructions received from the NSA.

When asked whether he had informed investigators from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), formerly the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), that the transfers were carried out on the basis of written instructions from the accused, he replied: “Correct.”

Counsel further asked whether the written instruction referenced in his statement to investigators was the document marked as Exhibit D before the court.

“My Lady, yes. And there is another instruction. That is why the word instructions was used,” he responded.

Mr Serbeh-Yeboah also confirmed that by March 3, 2023, ADB had disbursed GH¢6.87 million under the NSA-ADB hire purchase facility.

He identified a letter dated March 3, 2023, titled “NSS Hire Purchase Facility Repayment Advice,” which he co signed with another bank official, Kate Owusu.

The letter stated that GH¢6.87 million had been disbursed under the facility and indicated that arrangements to extend the facility to remaining personnel were at an advanced stage.

During proceedings, the defence tendered caution and statement forms the witness provided to the BNI in March 2025. The documents were admitted into evidence without objection as Exhibits 5 and 5A.

The witness confirmed that investigators had informed him he was being investigated for alleged abetment of crime, causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and defrauding by false pretences.

Reading from his caution statement, he told the court: “I deny charges against me and I would want to exercise my constitutional right to remain silent. All other information on the transaction are with the bank.”

However, he maintained that he had not personally been invited by the BNI.

“The BNI invited the Managing Director of ADB and I accompanied him. So I don't have any personal invitation from BNI,” he said.

Mr Serbeh-Yeboah further stated that the NSA had not lodged any formal complaint with ADB regarding the hire purchase facility.

He also told the court that he was unaware of any disciplinary action or adverse findings by ADB against officers who processed the facility.

The case has been adjourned to June 17, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.