The Office of the Auditor-General (A-G) has taken decisive action to recover GH¢2.4 billion from former senior officials of the National Service Authority (NSA) and their collaborators, following findings of large-scale financial misconduct.
The Technical and Forensic Audit, covering January 2018 to December 2024, revealed what the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, described as a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” to siphon state funds. The audit implicates former NSA Director-General Osei Assibey Antwi and his deputy, Gifty Oware-Mensah, at the centre of the fraudulent schemes.
The report highlights serious control failures, including payments to vendors without formal agreements or evidence of goods delivered, lack of board approval, and activities outside the NSA’s mandate. Notably, 56% of the total amount—approximately GH¢1.69 billion—was paid to a single entity, Direct Savings and Loans Ltd, through 151 transactions.
The audit also uncovered that senior NSA management illegally enrolled themselves as service personnel to collect allowances. Mr. Antwi paid himself GH¢516,000 monthly for 16 months, totalling GH¢8.2 million, while Mrs. Oware-Mensah simultaneously drew her full salary alongside allowances.
Other shocking findings included payments to ineligible personnel, including individuals under 18 or over 60, and some on the payroll allegedly aged 1,027 years. Additionally, GH¢2.2 million was paid to two companies owned by a sitting NSA Board member for “monitoring and evaluation” services, breaching procurement rules.
Under Article 187(7) of the 1992 Constitution, the Auditor-General has initiated the surcharge process to recover the funds, which will run independently of criminal proceedings currently being handled by the Attorney-General. The officials and implicated vendors have been instructed to refund the amounts, with interest applied at the current Bank of Ghana rate.
Mr. Asiedu emphasized that every effort will be made to reclaim public funds and hold those responsible accountable, describing the case as a severe abuse of office for personal gain.