Trial Update: NSA Deputy Director’s Own Signature Allegedly OK’d Fund Transfers to Her Company
📍 Accra • by Znews • Jun 03, 2026
The ongoing trial of Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), took a dramatic turn on Tuesday. The first prosecution witness testified that Oware-Mensah personally authorized the transfer of NSA funds into the account of her own company, Blocks of Life Consult Limited.
"We Authorize That Funds Be Transferred"
Gilbert Serbeh Yeboah, Head of Commercial Banking at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), told the court under cross-examination that the bank simply followed clear instructions from the accused.
He pointed to a letter dated March 2, 2023—entered as Exhibit D—which he described as the direct authorization for the transfers. Reading aloud, Yeboah quoted the letter: “We authorize that funds be transferred from the NSS hire purchase account to Blocks of Life.”
According to Yeboah, the instruction was signed by Oware-Mensah in her capacity as Deputy NSS Director, and the bank found it “unambiguous.”
Defense Challenges, Witness Fires Back
Defense lawyers argued the letter couldn’t serve as a standing instruction for multiple future transfers. But Yeboah held his ground, insisting ADB interpreted the directive as exactly that. He added that the bank reached out to Oware-Mensah before each transfer—via emails, letters, WhatsApp, and phone calls—though none of those communications were presented in court on Tuesday.
He also made a pointed remark: if there was any issue with the authorization, it was the NSA’s responsibility to reject the transactions.
“It will interest you to know that the bank received every dime of the transfer,” Yeboah said.
Inside the NSA’s Hire Purchase Account
The witness broke down how the NSA’s hire purchase account worked. It was a suspense account created under an agreement between ADB and the NSA to manage loan disbursements and repayments for National Service Personnel. Repayments mostly came through the e-Zwich system, since service allowances were paid through that platform.
Because only 90% of e-Zwich funds could be transferred electronically, the remaining 10% had to be withdrawn in cash and then deposited by bank officials—a process the defense seized on.
Cash Deposits and Questioned Records
Defense lawyers grilled Yeboah about cash deposits made by ADB staff, including Relationship Officer Christian Abotchie and another staffer, Nana Serwaa Osei-Agyemang. Yeboah confirmed the deposits but said they were standard practice tied to the e-Zwich repayment process.
The defense then suggested that Exhibit C—the bank statement tendered by the prosecution—was unreliable because some loan repayments appeared as debits while others showed as credits. Yeboah rejected that, explaining that repayments from the NSA were first credited to the suspense account, then debited and moved to the actual loan accounts.
He also denied any deliberate failure by ADB to produce loan account records or the bank statements of Blocks of Life Consult Limited. Those accounts, he noted, were handled by ADB’s Gulf House branch, and investigators had already received the requested documents.
What’s Next
The case has been adjourned to June 11, 2026, when cross-examination of the first prosecution witness will continue.
All eyes will be on whether the defense can poke further holes in the bank’s handling of the transfers—or if the paper trail will tighten around the former deputy director.
https://www.adomonline.com/gifty-oware-mensah-directed-transfer-of-nsa-funds-to-her-company-adb-manager-tells-court/
"We Authorize That Funds Be Transferred"
Gilbert Serbeh Yeboah, Head of Commercial Banking at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), told the court under cross-examination that the bank simply followed clear instructions from the accused.
He pointed to a letter dated March 2, 2023—entered as Exhibit D—which he described as the direct authorization for the transfers. Reading aloud, Yeboah quoted the letter: “We authorize that funds be transferred from the NSS hire purchase account to Blocks of Life.”
According to Yeboah, the instruction was signed by Oware-Mensah in her capacity as Deputy NSS Director, and the bank found it “unambiguous.”
Defense Challenges, Witness Fires Back
Defense lawyers argued the letter couldn’t serve as a standing instruction for multiple future transfers. But Yeboah held his ground, insisting ADB interpreted the directive as exactly that. He added that the bank reached out to Oware-Mensah before each transfer—via emails, letters, WhatsApp, and phone calls—though none of those communications were presented in court on Tuesday.
He also made a pointed remark: if there was any issue with the authorization, it was the NSA’s responsibility to reject the transactions.
“It will interest you to know that the bank received every dime of the transfer,” Yeboah said.
Inside the NSA’s Hire Purchase Account
The witness broke down how the NSA’s hire purchase account worked. It was a suspense account created under an agreement between ADB and the NSA to manage loan disbursements and repayments for National Service Personnel. Repayments mostly came through the e-Zwich system, since service allowances were paid through that platform.
Because only 90% of e-Zwich funds could be transferred electronically, the remaining 10% had to be withdrawn in cash and then deposited by bank officials—a process the defense seized on.
Cash Deposits and Questioned Records
Defense lawyers grilled Yeboah about cash deposits made by ADB staff, including Relationship Officer Christian Abotchie and another staffer, Nana Serwaa Osei-Agyemang. Yeboah confirmed the deposits but said they were standard practice tied to the e-Zwich repayment process.
The defense then suggested that Exhibit C—the bank statement tendered by the prosecution—was unreliable because some loan repayments appeared as debits while others showed as credits. Yeboah rejected that, explaining that repayments from the NSA were first credited to the suspense account, then debited and moved to the actual loan accounts.
He also denied any deliberate failure by ADB to produce loan account records or the bank statements of Blocks of Life Consult Limited. Those accounts, he noted, were handled by ADB’s Gulf House branch, and investigators had already received the requested documents.
What’s Next
The case has been adjourned to June 11, 2026, when cross-examination of the first prosecution witness will continue.
All eyes will be on whether the defense can poke further holes in the bank’s handling of the transfers—or if the paper trail will tighten around the former deputy director.
https://www.adomonline.com/gifty-oware-mensah-directed-transfer-of-nsa-funds-to-her-company-adb-manager-tells-court/
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