NSA ‘Ghost Names’: Gifty Oware- Mensah Returns, Ready For NIB

Gifty Oware-Mensah

 

A former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, has returned to Ghana amidst growing calls for accountability in some alleged shady activities at the NSA, leading to the state losing millions of Ghana Cedis.

Oware-Mensah, who is a member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Committee, had been out of the country since the December 7, 2024 election, leading some to speculate she was absconding from justice over her alleged role in the ‘ghost names’ scandal.

Allegations are that monthly allowances were allegedly being paid to some 8,000 non-existent national service personnel over a period of time.

But she returned to the country yesterday, just as rumours were beginning to swell over potential action by National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to arrest her over the scandal.

Her return also coincided with the arrest of former Deputy Director of Operations at the NSA, Kwaku Ohene Gyan, popularly known as Osonoba, who was detained by the NIB in connection with the scandal.

Although her role in the scandal remains unclear, it is expected that she would either be arrested or invited by intelligence agencies in the coming days, as investigations continue in a bid to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Madam Oware-Mensah received overwhelming support from the 20 Women’s Premier League clubs during a Congress in Tamale in October 2023, to secure a four-year term as the representative for women’s football on the GFA Executive Council.

She is well-known in football administration in Ghana and is the owner of the Women’s Premier League club Berry Ladies, and also serves as the Chairperson of the Black Queens’ Management Committee.

 

‘Wanted’

Last week, President John Dramani Mahama indicated that some individuals involved in the National Service Authority’s financial scandal have absconded.

Delivering his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in his second term in Parliament, the President indicated that he had directed the security agencies to declare the suspects as wanted, explaining that the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team has been tasked to bring the perpetrators of the NSA ‘ghost names’ scandal to book.

He said those involved in the scandal must be held accountable, adding that “such brazen theft of public funds must be stopped and punished.”

 

Upholding Rule of Law

Meanwhile, Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has assured that Gifty Oware-Mensah would make herself available to the NIB for investigations, stating that there is no need for a Rambo-style approach to arresting suspects.

He clarified that Madam Oware-Mensah was not on the run but rather on holiday, pointing out that social media escalated the rumours of her absconding from justice.

He said Madam Oware-Mensah’s legal team is in contact with the NIB, and whatever the NIB has against her would have to be done within due process of law.

He also stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not against accountability, adding that if the new government needs former appointees to explain certain matters, it is within their rights to do so, and if it needs investigations, there will be no problem.

“What is important is to follow due process, and once due process is being followed, why not,” he queried.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also stated that as far as he knew, no state officials harassed Madam Oware-Mensah on her arrival in Ghana.

 

BY Gibril Abdul Razak

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