Three once powerful members of the now opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) continue to languish in the cells of the Economic and Organised Crime Office(EOCO) after failing to meet their bail conditions.
As the accused Gifty Oware-Mensah, Osei Assibey Antwi, and Abdul-Wahab Abdul Hanan Aludiba remain in detention, activists of the NPP appear unperturbed, provoking suspicion that they may have abandoned them.
When some other NPP bigwigs were arrested and detained as they worked to meet their bail conditions, NPP stalwarts and activists alike mobilised and thronged the premises of the security agencies, demanding their release and accusing the government of vendetta. They brought a lot of political pressure on the system and worked hard to get them released on bail. The detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako better known as Chairman Wontumi had party faithful in their numbers picket the premises of EOCO. The media buzzed with stories on his detention and the need for his release.
But the case of Ms Oware-Mensah, Mr Osei Assibey Antwo, both accused of stealing from the National Service Authority(MSA), and Abdul Hanan Aludiba accused of stealing from the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, respectively, appears to be different.
There is picketing, no conspicuous support on social media and the top hierarchy of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) appears to be in a state of inertia.
The NPP may have plans or are indeed supporting them, but it appears the duo have been left to face their troubles alone as they face the Courts as accused persons.
The financial loss attributed to Mr Antwi amounts to GHC 615 million.
The Attorney General has slapped Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, the former Executive Director of the National Service Authority, with 14 counts, including causing financial loss to the state, stealing, and money laundering. These acts led to a loss of GHC 615 million to the state. His bail amount is over GHC 800 million.
Gifty Oware-Mensah, who was Mr Antwi’s deputy at the National Service Authority, has also been charged with five counts, including stealing, willfully causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, which led to a loss of over GHC 38.4 million to the state. She has been granted bail to the tune of 10 million Cedis
Abdul Wahab Abdul Hanan Aludiba has been charged with stealing and causing financial loss of more than GH¢61 million to the state. He was granted bail to the tune of 100 million Cedis.
It remains to be seen what the NPP and its activists will do in the coming days.
