Court reduces Osei Assibey Antwi’s bail from GHS800m to GHS623m
The High Court has reviewed and reduced the bail granted to former Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Osei Assibey Antwi, from GH¢800 million to GH¢623 million, while maintaining all other conditions.
The court’s decision followed an application by Mr. Assibey Antwi’s lawyers, who argued that the initial bail amount was excessive and practically impossible to satisfy.
Mr. Assibey Antwi is facing charges of stealing, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state amounting to GH¢1.4 billion.
His legal team contended that meeting the GH¢800 million bail would have required providing numerous high-value properties in Accra or over a thousand houses in Kumasi, making the condition unrealistic.
The defence further argued that the fundamental purpose of bail, ensuring the accused’s appearance for trial had already been achieved, noting that their client has surrendered his passport and is on a no-flight list.
However, the prosecution, led by Dufie Prempeh from the Office of the Attorney-General, opposed the application, insisting that the original bail was fair and proportional to the magnitude of the alleged offences.
In her ruling, the presiding judge agreed that while the charges involve substantial sums, the bail must remain reasonable and attainable. The court therefore reduced the amount to GH¢623 million, maintaining all other existing conditions, including the number of sureties and property guarantees.
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