Accra: The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that the State will file charges against 12 suspects in connection with the National Service Scheme (NSS) scandal by the first week of July. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, he confirmed that investigations into the scandal had been concluded, marking a significant step in addressing the high-profile case.

According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ayine outlined that the suspects face multiple charges, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, willfully causing financial loss, using public office for profit, obtaining public property, and money laundering. The scandal has reportedly resulted in a loss of GHC548 million to the State. Those to be charged include key figures such as Osei Assibey Antwi, Gifty Oware-Mensah, Kweku Ohene Gyan, Abraham Bismark Gaise, and Eric Nyarko, among others.

Dr. Ayine further stated that charges will also be filed against vendors on the Central Management System marketplace of NSA across the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Ashanti Regions. Notable individuals include Peter Mensah, Sylvia Ntriwa Opare, Haruna Mawulaya, Solomon Dwamena, and Kweku Opare Agbofa. Additional names include Rose Hamilton, Philomina Arthur, Charles Ohemeng, and Isaac Osae Asamani.

In a strategic move, Dr. Ayine revealed that the State has opted for Non-Prosecution Agreements (NPAs) with certain vendors who have agreed to provide compelling testimonies as witnesses. However, the identities of these individuals remain undisclosed.

As part of the broader initiative dubbed Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), Dr. Ayine has ordered extensive investigations into the assets owned by the suspects. The goal is to recover funds and assets linked to the scandal. “We shall be pursuing the suspects to retrieve funds attributable to them and assets they have acquired using those funds,” he emphasized.