NSA Scandal: NIB detains Gifty Oware-Mensah

Gifty Oware-Mensah, the former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in charge of General Services and a current member of the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council, has been detained by the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) in connection with an alleged payroll fraud at the NSA.

Her arrest is part of a broader investigation into a ghost-name scandal that has captured national attention. Reports indicate that Oware-Mensah was taken into custody on Friday, March 7, 2025, and remains in detention despite multiple efforts to secure her release.

It is claimed that former NPP General Secretary John Boadu attempted to intervene on her behalf, but she was later moved from the NIB office to an undisclosed location.

The scandal was first exposed by The Fourth Estate, which uncovered fraudulent activities within the NSA’s payroll system. In his first State of the Nation Address, President John Dramani Mahama ordered law enforcement agencies to take firm action against those involved. Following this directive, authorities have ramped up their investigations, resulting in several arrests.

There are reports suggesting that some individuals implicated in the scheme may have fled the country. As a result, President Mahama has instructed that their assets be frozen to prevent them from profiting from their alleged crimes.

Before her arrest, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had assured that Oware-Mensah was willing to cooperate with the NIB’s investigation. Her legal team was reportedly in the process of arranging her formal engagement with the authorities when she was detained.

Oware-Mensah had only returned to Ghana on March 5, 2025, after spending time abroad following the 2024 elections.