High Court of Ghana Rejects Bid to Halt Trial of Gifty Oware-Mensah in NSA Ghost Names Case

The High Court of Ghana has dismissed an application by lawyers for former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah, seeking to suspend her ongoing criminal trial pending the outcome of an appeal challenging a directive requiring her to submit a list of defence witnesses.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, during a case management conference in line with criminal trial practice directions, which require the prosecution to disclose its evidence and the defence to indicate potential witnesses where necessary.

Counsel for Madam Oware-Mensah, led by Gary Nimako-Marfo, argued that the directive compelling the defence to file a witness list infringes on her constitutional right to the presumption of innocence. The legal team has consequently filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal of Ghana seeking to overturn the directive.

While awaiting the outcome of that appeal, the defence requested the High Court to stay proceedings, but the request was rejected. A second application linked to another pending appeal on the same issue was also filed but did not succeed.

The defence further urged the trial judge to refer the constitutional question to the Supreme Court of Ghana for interpretation. That request was declined as well, prompting yet another appeal alongside a renewed application to halt the trial.

The court noted that not all parties had been properly served with documents relating to the latest application and subsequently adjourned proceedings to April 15, 2026, to allow service to be completed.

**Background**

Madam Oware-Mensah is facing trial over her alleged involvement in the creation of ghost names within the database of the National Service Authority, a scheme prosecutors say caused the state to lose more than GH¢38 million.

She has been charged with five counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state, theft, money laundering, and using public office for personal gain.

According to prosecutors, she allegedly generated about 9,934 fictitious National Service personnel and unlawfully benefited from allowances paid to these ghost names during her tenure.

The Dominic Ayine, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, stated that the alleged actions resulted in significant financial losses to the state, reinforcing the seriousness of the prosecution’s case as proceedings continue.