The High Court has decided to reduce the bail of Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), from GH¢800 million to GH¢623 million. The decision comes after Antwi’s legal team argued that the original bail amount was excessively high and practically unachievable.
In their submission, Antwi’s lawyers explained that the original bail conditions would have required the pledging of an unreasonably large number of high-value properties—many in Accra and a substantial number of homes in Kumasi—making the bail unworkable. They also pointed out that the primary purpose of bail, which is to ensure the defendant’s presence at trial, had already been addressed. They noted that Antwi had surrendered his passport and was placed on a no-fly list to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Despite opposition from the prosecution, led by Dufie Prempeh from the Attorney-General’s office, who argued that the original bail conditions were necessary to secure Antwi’s presence in court, the judge acknowledged the concerns raised by the defense. In a ruling delivered today, the court deemed the reduced sum of GH¢623 million to be more reasonable, while still reflecting the seriousness of the financial loss involved in the case.
The court maintained all other bail conditions, including the requirement for sureties and property pledges, to ensure Antwi’s compliance with the trial process. The legal saga continues, with Antwi still facing charges related to the alleged mismanagement of funds within the NSA.
