Court issues bench warrant for former NPP parliamentary aspirant in tax fraud case

The Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant for the Ablekuma Central Constituency, Collins Amoah, over his alleged involvement in a GH¢800,000 fraud case at Tse Addo, Accra.

According to court documents, Collins Amoah and a 51-year-old trader, Solomon Okuley, allegedly defrauded a businessman of GH¢800,000 under the pretext of using their political connections to clear his Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) tax debt.

The prosecution further accused the two of misappropriating the entire sum for their personal and political interests.

Solomon Okuley has been granted bail of GH¢1 million with two sureties, each of whom must be a public servant earning at least GH¢5,000 per month.

The court, presided over by Susana Eduful, also directed that one of the sureties must be an immediate family member of Okuley. Additionally, Okuley was ordered to deposit his passport at the court registry until the case is determined.

Okuley, who has pleaded not guilty, has been charged with defrauding by false pretence contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The prosecution was directed to file all disclosures and witness statements in accordance with legal procedures.

The case has been adjourned to February 3, 2025, for a Case Management Conference (CMC).

Presenting the facts, Chief Inspector Teye Okuffo stated that in June 2024, the complainant met the accused persons, who allegedly convinced him to hand over GH¢800,000, promising to use their political influence to settle his GRA tax debt. Trusting their claim, the complainant, Ababio, gave them the money in the presence of witnesses, expecting the debt to be cleared.

However, after receiving the funds, the accused persons failed to fulfil their promise and began avoiding the complainant. By December 28, 2024, after months of unsuccessful attempts to reach them, Ababio realised he had been defrauded and reported the matter to the police. That same day, Okuley was arrested.

During interrogation, Okuley allegedly admitted to taking the GH¢800,000 but claimed that Amoah had taken GH¢650,000 for his personal political activities, instead of using it to pay the complainant’s GRA debt.