A 44-year-old businessman, Anthony Appiah, has been charged with defrauding a businesswoman of GH¢480,000. He appeared before the Accra Circuit Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretences. The court, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, admitted Appiah to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢4,000.
According to the prosecution, the complainant, a businesswoman who resides in Accra, was approached by Appiah in May 2025. Appiah, who had known the complainant for some time, visited her home and told her that he had secured a distribution contract with BEL-AQUA Company. He allegedly claimed that he needed $50,000 to execute the contract and appealed to the complainant for financial assistance, promising to refund the money within two weeks.
The complainant subsequently gave Appiah GH¢480,000. However, after the two-week period elapsed, Appiah failed to refund the money. The prosecution said the complainant contacted BEL-AQUA Company to verify the contract and was informed that Appiah had no such contract with the company. This led to the complainant petitioning the Police for investigations.
Investigations established that BEL-AQUA Company had neither awarded Appiah any contract nor engaged him in any capacity. All efforts to retrieve the money proved unsuccessful, prompting the complainant to report the incident to the Police. Appiah was subsequently arrested and charged with defrauding by false pretences.
The case highlights the prevalence of fraud in Ghana's economy. According to the Global Organised Crime Index, fraud and tax evasion are widespread across Ghana's economy. This incident serves as a reminder for individuals to be cautious when engaging in financial transactions with others.
The Accra Circuit Court is one of several courts in Ghana that have been dealing with cases of fraud. Recently, a media worker and a journalist were remanded over an alleged GH¢800,000 fraud. In another case, a manager was remanded over $1m auto fraud. These cases demonstrate the efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat fraud and other financial crimes in the country.
The case against Appiah will continue at the Accra Circuit Court. If convicted, he could face a significant prison sentence. The incident serves as a warning to individuals who engage in fraudulent activities, highlighting the consequences of such actions.
Key points
- A 44-year-old businessman, Anthony Appiah, has been charged with defrauding a businesswoman of GH¢480,000.
- The Accra Circuit Court admitted Appiah to bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties.
- Investigations established that BEL-AQUA Company had neither awarded Appiah any contract nor engaged him in any capacity.
