Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore faces theft charges in Singaporean investor case

The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice has recommended the prosecution of Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for theft. The recommendation follows a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe into a complaint filed by Singaporean businessman Toh You Kang. According to the Attorney General's office, there is sufficient evidence to charge Mr. Ashie-Moore under Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, for allegedly stealing personal belongings, including a passport and medication.

The allegations center on an incident in May 2025, shortly after Mr. Kang arrived in Ghana to pursue business investments. Investigators claim that while the businessman was held in police custody, Mr. Ashie-Moore visited the hotel where Mr. Kang was staying and checked him out without authorization. During this process, he is alleged to have taken possession of the businessman’s personal effects. The Attorney General’s review of the case highlights discrepancies in Mr. Ashie-Moore's account of how he acquired these items, noting that witness statements, CCTV footage, and a cybercrime analysis report provide a substantial basis for criminal charges.

This legal development is linked to a broader controversy involving a purported US$800,000 transaction. Mr. Kang alleged that the NDC regional chairman took the sum from him under false pretenses, claiming it was meant for securing contracts with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). While the current recommendation focuses specifically on the theft of personal items from the hotel, the background of the case suggests a complex series of interactions between the two parties. A second suspect mentioned in the investigation, Luibing Liang, is reportedly still at large and has not yet been processed by the authorities.

Mr. Ashie-Moore has denied all allegations of theft and fraud through his legal counsel, maintaining that he is a victim in this matter rather than a perpetrator. The Attorney General’s office has indicated that the investigation docket has been retained for formal prosecution following the review of the evidence. While the recommendation marks a significant escalation in the legal process, the Attorney General’s office emphasized that the decision to charge does not constitute a conviction and that the NDC official remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.