An Accra Circuit Court has remanded Emmanuel Ahadzie, a 51-year-old managing director at an Accra-based machinery firm, over an alleged scheme to defraud his company's client of $1 million. Ahadzie appeared before the court on 3 October 2026, where he was remanded into police custody. The court did not take his plea during the appearance. According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Ahadzie is accused of conspiring with two other men to defraud Moses Kwame Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Service Machinery Ghana Limited (SMGL).
The alleged scam involved Ahadzie and his accomplices, Akponu Kwaku Joseph and Guo Nian Ming, who also goes by the alias David. They agreed to collect $1 million from Williams under the pretext of supplying him with six heavy-duty Sino trucks. On 17 April 2026, Ahadzie allegedly convinced Williams to open an account at CalBank and transfer the funds into an account belonging to Ming. Once the money was received, Ming allegedly failed to deliver on the agreement to supply the trucks.
Investigators allege that Ahadzie planned with Ming to send Williams a pro forma invoice, a preliminary bill of sale often used to formalise a purchase before payment. This was specifically done to make the transaction appear legitimate and avoid raising suspicion before the money changed hands. The prosecution's account relayed by GNA states that Ahadzie served as the managing director of SMGL and resided in Spintex, while Williams, his employer, lives in Baatsona-Spintex.
Williams reportedly did not raise the alarm with authorities until 28 September 2026, when he petitioned the Police Intelligence Directorate to investigate. This was more than five months after the money was allegedly transferred. Following sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance, police arrested Ahadzie, leading to his court appearance days later. Ahadzie has been charged with two offences: conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences.
His two alleged co-conspirators, Akponu Kwaku Joseph and Guo Nian Ming, remain at large. The prosecution told the court that efforts were underway to track them down. Ahadzie is due to reappear before the Accra Circuit Court on 13 October 2026. No further details have been given on when the court will take his plea or on the timeline for apprehending his two alleged accomplices.
The case underscores the financial exposure Ghanaian businesses face when large sums are transferred on the strength of invoices and verbal assurances without independent verification of suppliers. For companies in the heavy machinery and import trade, where multimillion-dollar deals often involve foreign-linked intermediaries, the alleged scheme is a reminder of the importance of due diligence before funds change hands.
Key points
- The Accra Circuit Court remanded Emmanuel Ahadzie over an alleged $1 million fake truck scam.
- Ahadzie and his accomplices allegedly convinced SMGL's CEO to transfer $1 million for six heavy-duty trucks that were never supplied.
- The case highlights the importance of due diligence in verifying suppliers before transferring large sums of money.
