Gifty Oware-Mensah, a former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA) and a current Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has been detained by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) in connection with an alleged payroll fraud at the NSA.
Her arrest is part of an ongoing probe into a ghost-name scandal that has sparked national controversy.
Arrest and Detention
Reports indicate that Oware-Mensah was taken into custody on Friday, March 7, 2025, and remains detained despite multiple attempts to secure her bail.
It is alleged that former NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, attempted to intervene to facilitate her release. However, she was later transferred from the NIB premises to an undisclosed location.
Uncovering the Scandal
The fraudulent scheme came to light following an investigative exposé by The Fourth Estate, which revealed irregularities in the NSA’s payroll system.
In his first State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama called for decisive action against those implicated. In response, authorities have intensified their investigations, leading to multiple arrests.
It has also been suggested that some suspects have fled the country. To prevent them from benefiting from any illegally acquired wealth, President Mahama has ordered the freezing of their assets.
Legal and Political Reactions
Prior to her arrest, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had assured that Oware-Mensah was willing to cooperate with the NIB’s investigations. Her legal team was reportedly arranging her engagement with authorities when she was detained.
Oware-Mensah had only recently returned to Ghana on March 5, 2025, after spending time abroad following the 2024 elections.
