NSA Payroll Fraud: NIB repotedly releases former NSA Deputy Director Gifty Oware-Mensah amid payroll fraud probe and after her 48-hour detention. Many ask, What happened to Gifty Oware-Mensah after her NIB detention?
Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), walked free today after a tense weekend in detention by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB). Sources close to the investigation confirmed that Oware-Mensah, also a prominent member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, was released on bail late this morning following intense questioning over her alleged involvement in a payroll fraud scandal.
The release comes amid mounting public scrutiny and legal debates, with her detention having sparked calls for adherence to Ghana’s 48-hour rule, which mandates that suspects be charged or released within two days of arrest.
Oware-Mensah’s arrest on Friday, March 7, stemmed from accusations of overseeing fraudulent payroll activities during her tenure at the NSA, including the creation of thousands of “ghost names” that reportedly cost the state millions of cedis monthly. After returning to Ghana from abroad earlier this week, she was detained shortly after landing at Kotoka International Airport, despite assurances from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin that she would cooperate fully with authorities. Her release today, though a relief to her supporters, leaves unanswered questions about the terms of her bail and the next steps in the NIB’s probe, which has already implicated other former NSA officials like Kwaku Ohene Djan.
What happened to Gifty Oware-Mensah after her NIB detention; Legal Experts Comments
Prominent legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, who had publicly vowed to represent Oware-Mensah if her rights were violated, hailed her release as a victory for due process. “The NIB respected the law this time, and that’s what matters,” Kpebu told reporters outside the bureau’s headquarters, referencing the constitutional 48-hour limit he had fiercely defended on TV3’s Key Points.
However, critics argue that her swift release—barely crossing the legal threshold—raises concerns about political interference, especially given reports that former NPP General Secretary John Boadu had attempted to secure her bail over the weekend. The NIB has remained tight-lipped, stating only that investigations into the scandal are ongoing.
What happened to Gifty Oware-Mensah after her NIB detention?”
For now, Oware-Mensah’s return to freedom shifts the spotlight back to the broader implications of the NSA fraud case, which has gripped the nation since The Fourth Estate exposé uncovered the scale of the alleged embezzlement. As Ghanaians await further developments, her release today, March 10, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in a saga that blends faith in legal accountability with skepticism about the influence of powerful figures.
Whether this signals the beginning of justice or a pause in a contentious investigation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the story of Gifty Oware-Mensah and the ghost names is far from over. This case continues to highlight the question: What happened to Gifty Oware-Mensah after her NIB detention in 2025?
