The Supreme Court has dismissed an application seeking to halt the trial of former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, Gifty Oware-Mensah, allowing proceedings at the High Court to continue.

A five-member panel, presided over by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, ruled that the trial could proceed even as constitutional questions raised by the defence are pursued separately.

The application was filed by her lawyer, Gary Nimako Marfo, who argued that a practice direction used at the High Court was unconstitutional. The directive requires accused persons to submit a list of defence witnesses and their addresses at the case management stage.

Letter signed by Gifty Oware on NSS fund movement admitted as evidence in court

Despite the challenge, the apex court held that the request for a stay of proceedings did not meet the legal threshold, noting that the High Court trial does not need to be suspended.

Oware-Mensah is currently standing trial over allegations that she caused financial loss of more than GH¢38 million to the state through a payroll-related scheme at the National Service Authority.

Prosecutors allege that thousands of non-existent names were created on the NSA Central Management System and later used in a fraudulent arrangement involving a private company, Blocks of Life Consult Limited.

The company is said to have been presented to a bank as part of a scheme to secure financial facilities based on alleged service payments tied to ghost beneficiaries.

She has been charged with multiple offences, including causing financial loss to the state, use of public office for profit, and money laundering. She has pleaded not guilty and has been granted bail by the High Court.

FKA/MA