NSA scandal: NIB detains Gifty Oware-Mensah

Former Deputy Director of the National Service Authority (NSA) and current member of the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Executive Council, Gifty Oware-Mensah has been detained by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) over her alleged involvement in a payroll fraud scheme at the National Service Authority.

Her detention is tied to a widening probe into a ghost-names scandal that has rocked the agency.

Oware-Mensah was reportedly taken into custody on Friday, 7th March 2025, and remains held as authorities reject multiple appeals for bail. Sources claim John Boadu, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attempted to mediate her release, but she was subsequently moved from NIB facilities to an unknown location.

The scandal, which sparked public outrage, first unfolded after investigative outlet The Fourth Estate revealed systemic irregularities in the NSA’s payroll.

During his inaugural State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama demanded swift accountability, urging law enforcement to pursue all suspects. This directive has accelerated arrests, with several officials already implicated.

Authorities suspect some individuals connected to the fraud have allegedly absconded abroad. To counter this, President Mahama has mandated the freezing of their assets, aiming to block access to funds suspected as illicit gains.

Before her detention, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had publicly stated that Oware-Mensah was “willing to cooperate” with investigators. Her legal team, according to reports, was finalizing plans for her to assist the NIB voluntarily before her arrest.

Gifty Oware-Mensah had only newly arrived back in Ghana on 5th March 2025 after spending time overseas following the 2024 general elections.

By: Novire Kuuyizie Francis