Paul Yandoh, the Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Osei Assibey Antwi, is likely to spend Christmas in custody.
It will be recalled, Osei Assibey has been accused of authorising payments to over 60,000 non-existent national service personnel and misappropriating public funds.
The former NSS boss is facing multiple counts under sections “179A(1) and 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)”.
Prosecutors allege that the former NSA boss “willfully caused financial loss of GH¢500,861,744.02 to the Republic by authorising the payment of allowances to over 60,000 “ghost” service personnel between August 2021 and February 2025. Also facing six counts of stealing.
The theft includes, “GH¢3.6 million on August 22, 2023, GH¢516,000 each on September 11, October 26, and November 23, 2023, GH¢1.03 million on December 18, 2023, GH¢2.06 million on May 14, 2024.
He has also been accused of transferring GH¢8.26 into his personal account.
The charge sheet also cites “unauthorised withdrawals from the Kumawu Farm Project account (No. 1018631542212), amounting to GH¢74 million”.
Speaking on Ezra Adekyee, Paul Yandoh noted that Osei Assibey Antwi’s bail conditions are hefty.
He stated, “The allegations against him are grave. Considering the hefty bail conditions, I feel he will spend Christmas in custody.”
“It depends on the closeness of the relationship. But regardless, we would ensure we show up to express support for him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the High Court has reduced Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority’s bail condition from GHc800 million to GHc623 million.
The High Court bail variation, however, maintained all other bail conditions.
This follows Osei Assibey’s lawyers arguing in court that the original bail of GHc800 million was impossible to meet by their client.
According to his lawyers, the initial bail would require providing dozens of high-value properties in Accra and Kumasi, which makes it unrealistic.
Osei Assibey’s lawyers also noted that the main purpose of bail was preventing flight risk, which has been achieved by their client surrendering his passports and also being placed on a stop list.
Dufie Prempeh, representing the Attorney General’s office, opposed the variation, arguing that the original conditions were reasonable.
The court, in its ruling, accepted that a reduced bail of 623 million cedis is more realistic, but maintained all other conditions of his sureties and property pledges.