High Court Rulings and Corruption Allegations Shake Ghana's Political and Business Landscape

22nd July•3 min read•30 sources

The Accra High Court has emerged as a central arena for high-profile legal battles involving prominent political and business figures, highlighted by significant rulings and pending decisions. On July 23, 2026, the court is expected to rule on an application by the former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, to dismiss multiple criminal charges including fraud and money laundering. His counsel, Godfred Yeboah Dame, argues that the charge sheet is 'fatally defective' and lacks the specificity required for a fair trial. Simultaneously, the court's Commercial Division has authorized police assistance for UK-based Cola Holdings Limited to take possession of the No. 1 Oxford Street Hotel in Osu, a property owned by businessman Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar. The ruling follows unsuccessful attempts to obtain the property peacefully under the Borrowers and Lenders Act.

In the Ashanti Region, the legal system has delivered a severe blow to NPP Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the Akonta Mining illegal mining case. The judgment, delivered by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, sparked immediate controversy, prompting the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to clarify that its Deputy Commissioner, Mercy Larbi, was not the presiding judge. Amid the fallout, Wontumi's lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, refuted claims that he abandoned his client, explaining that his absence during the ruling was due to his daughter’s graduation in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, has addressed public speculation regarding his family ties to the presiding judge to ensure transparency.

Corruption allegations have also caused significant personal and political strain for other high-ranking figures. Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a spokesperson for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, revealed that his marriage has been severely affected by Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) allegations involving the misappropriation of funds during his tenure at the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation. Aboagye has publicly challenged the figures cited by EOCO, asserting that the investigation involves GH¢5.2 million rather than the GH¢55 million reported. Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has secured permanent residency in the United States after a U.S. immigration judge ruled that corruption allegations presented by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor lacked sufficient evidence to block his green card application.

Beyond high-profile political cases, law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts against organized crime and environmental degradation. EOCO and the Ghana Police Service successfully rescued 39 individuals from a human trafficking and travel fraud syndicate in Hohoe, identifying two groups—'Model Q' and 'Ignite'—that allegedly deceived victims with false promises of overseas jobs. In a separate operation, the National Security Secretariat arrested a suspect for illegal mining activities near an Agenda 111 Hospital project site in Adansi Asokwa. These developments underscore a broader trend of rigorous legal and regulatory scrutiny as the nation navigates complex issues of accountability, justice, and the protection of national assets under the current administration.

This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.

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High Court Rulings and Corruption Allegations Shake Ghana's Political and Business Landscape

More from politics

President Mahama and Vice President Opoku-Agyemang Drive Governance Agenda as Ghana Reports Significant Drop in Debt Servicing Costs

Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin Decries 'Intimidation' as NDC Majority Asserts Power in Parliament

President Mahama Champions 'Accra Reset' as Ghana Prepares for 2027 AU Chairmanship and Celebrates US Visa Ruling

National Lottery Authority Urges Staff to End Strike Over 17% Salary Increase Demand