Gifty Oware-Mensah, a prominent Executive Council member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), has been formally accused by the Attorney General of orchestrating a massive GH¢30 million loan fraud. The alleged scheme involved the use of falsified identities and a fictitious company to defraud the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
The allegations were brought to light by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, during a press briefing held on Friday, June 13, 2025. Dr. Ayine revealed that Oware-Mensah meticulously planned and executed a complex financial scheme that leveraged National Service allowances as collateral to secure a loan totaling GH¢30,698,218 from the ADB.
“Gifty Oware-Mensah created and executed a meticulously detailed plan using National Service allowances as security to obtain a loan of GH¢30,698,218 from the ADB,” Dr. Ayine stated, outlining the core of the alleged fraudulent activity.
The Attorney General further detailed the sophisticated nature of the scheme, explaining that the former NSS official allegedly utilized the personal information of unsuspecting individuals to create a fabricated business entity. “She achieved this by using other people’s information to register a company called Blocks of Life Consult without their knowledge,” the AG explained, highlighting the element of identity fraud in the alleged operation.
To present this bogus company as a legitimate business to the bank, Oware-Mensah reportedly deployed a network of intermediaries and even involved her spouse in the deception. “She presented Blocks of Life Consult through a middleman and used her husband to act as one of the representatives of the said company,” Dr. Ayine further explained, indicating a coordinated effort to create a veneer of credibility for the fraudulent venture.
The Attorney General elaborated on how the fictitious company was then introduced to the ADB. The bank was allegedly informed that “Blocks of Life Consult” specialized in supplying home appliances to National Service personnel. The proposal presented to ADB suggested that the bank finance the company, enabling it to provide these items to service personnel on a higher purchase (hire-purchase) basis. “She told ADB that the company specialises in supplying home appliances to NSS personnel and proposed that ADB finance the company to enable it to supply these items on a higher purchase basis to the service personnel,” he said.
These startling revelations emerge against the backdrop of an ongoing, broader investigation into massive payroll fraud at the National Service Scheme, particularly during Oware-Mensah’s tenure as Deputy Executive Director. This earlier investigation has already seen significant developments. Earlier this year, Gifty Oware-Mensah was detained and interrogated by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for several hours, although she was subsequently granted bail.
The larger NSS payroll scandal centers on an alarming discrepancy uncovered by the government. In 2024, the NSS officially reported 180,030 names for allowance payments. However, a physical headcount and verification process revealed a stark difference, with only 98,145 active service personnel identified. This massive discrepancy points to 81,885 “ghost names” on the payroll, an irregularity that is believed to have cost the state in excess of GH¢50 million monthly in fraudulent payments.
The latest accusations by the Attorney General against Gifty Oware-Mensah suggest a deeper, more intricate web of alleged financial malfeasance that extends beyond the payroll fraud and directly implicates a high-profile individual in a significant loan scheme. The unfolding investigations are expected to reveal further details as authorities continue their efforts to unravel the full extent of the alleged fraud and bring those responsible to justice.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
