Gifty Oware Back In Town

Former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah, yesterday Tuesday March 4, 2025, arrived in Ghana from her foreign trip on her own free will, ending speculations she had fled Ghana.

Mrs. Oware-Mensah touched down at exactly 12;13 in the afternoon and appeared to be in high-spirits as she hugged, smiled and waved back at friends and fans where welcomed her at the Kotoka International Airport.

Contrary to media reports that officials of the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) had laid ambush at the airport to whisk her away from the tarmac, Gifty Oware-Mensah was not arrested at the airport neither were there any persons waiting to arrest her.

She left in her private vehicle that had been sent from her home to pick her. Reports say she later reported to the NIB herself and in the company of her lawyers.

Reports indicate that within a few hours of her arrival, she proceeded straight to the NIB headquarters in Accra to respond to inquiries regarding her alleged involvement in the NSS payroll scandal.

The scandal, which involved the reported addition of over 81,885 ghost names to the scheme’s database, is believed to have cost the state millions of Ghana cedis each month.

Oware-Mensah, who also serves on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, has pledged her full cooperation with investigators.

Moreover, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin confirmed that she will engage with authorities to clarify her role during her tenure at NSA, where she oversaw administration and finance.

“I am aware that Gifty arrived this afternoon, I have been in touch with her. She is here in Ghana. Her Lawyers are in touch with the National Investigation Bureau and I am sure she is going to make herself available and whatever the state investigation authorities have, they would have to pursue within due process of law,” he stated.

The Minority Leader, further reiterated that New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) is committed to accountability, stating that the party has no objections to investigations into the conduct of former government officials.

“NPP is not against accountability, we been in public service and we are out of office, obviously if the new government needs former officials to explaincertain matters, it within their right to pursue such and if it means investigating, there should be no problem. What is important is to follow that due process,” Afenyo-Markin bluntly affirmed.

Prior to this, President John Dramani Mahama directed investigative bodies to trace and freeze the assets of all individuals suspected of involvement in the National Service ‘ghost names’ scandal and to declare them wanted.

He announced these decisive actions during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, February 27, 2025, emphasizing the need to recover stolen funds and prosecute those responsible.

Gifty Oware-Mensah’s prompt decision to appear before the NIB marks a significant step in uncovering the NSS payroll scandal.