Veteran lawyer and Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has been appointed as the new defence counsel for former National Service Authority (NSA) boss Osei Assibey Antwi in his ongoing financial loss trial.
The change in legal representation was officially documented in a notice of change of solicitor filed at the High Court on February 23, 2026, and signed by Mr Poku-Adusei, who heads his own law firm, Trent Legal Amansie Chambers. The notice was also served on the Attorney-General and the National Intelligence Bureau, who represent the state in the case.
Osei Assibey Antwi is standing trial over allegations that he caused significant financial loss to the state during his tenure as Director-General of the National Service Authority. The charges relate to how allowances were paid under his leadership and have been a focal point of the prosecution’s case.
Mr Poku-Adusei, a well-known criminal lawyer with experience in several high-profile cases, appeared in court on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, alongside a team of six other lawyers from his chambers to formally take over his client’s defence.
During the court session, he noted that the charge sheet had been amended by the prosecution, with the total amount allegedly lost by his client reduced from the earlier figure of GH¢631,629,744.00 to GH¢530,905,945.20. Mr Poku-Adusei said this change might affect how the prosecution proves its case, and he expressed confidence that he and his legal team are prepared to defend their client vigorously.
The judge did not sit on Wednesday because she was reported to be indisposed, and the case was adjourned to Monday, March 9, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for continuation.
The trial has drawn attention because of the size of the alleged losses and the public profile of Osei Assibey Antwi, who previously served as NSA Director-General and was also Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the defence is expected to challenge the prosecution’s evidence in the coming hearings.
