Gifty Oware-Mensah Pleads Not Guilty to ₵38 Million “Ghost Names” Scandal
Gifty Oware-Mensah, a prominent figure and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Service Scheme (NSS), has pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges, including stealing, money laundering, and dishonestly causing financial loss to the state.
The charges stem from an alleged ₵38 million “ghost names” scandal, which prosecutors say involved the creation and maintenance of fictitious names on the NSS payroll over a period of time. According to the prosecution, the fraudulent activity led to the diversion of funds meant for genuine national service personnel into private accounts.
Appearing before the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, Oware-Mensah firmly denied all allegations leveled against her. Her legal team described the case as a “politically motivated smear campaign” aimed at tarnishing her reputation.
State prosecutors, however, insist they have substantial evidence to prove that Oware-Mensah played a key role in authorizing and benefiting from payments made to non-existent service personnel. The court heard that investigators had traced large sums of money transferred through various accounts linked to her and other accomplices.
The presiding judge granted her bail with strict conditions, including the surrender of her passport and regular reporting to the police. The case has since been adjourned to allow both parties to complete the exchange of evidence and witness statements.
Meanwhile, the scandal has sparked public outrage, with many calling for a broader investigation into the National Service Scheme’s financial systems. Civil society groups have urged the government to tighten monitoring mechanisms to prevent future occurrences of payroll fraud in state institutions.
As the legal proceedings continue, Gifty Oware-Mensah maintains her innocence, vowing to clear her name and expose what she calls a “deliberate attempt to destroy her career and credibility.”
The ₵38 million ghost names scandal remains one of the most significant financial controversies to hit a public institution in recent years.