A 55-year-old man has been arraigned before the Adenta Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a businessman of GH¢500,000 under the guise of facilitating the purchase of an auctioned vehicle.
The accused, Bawah Yusif Sarkodie, who is said to have posed as a National Security operative, allegedly took the money to secure a Toyota Land Cruiser purportedly seized by the government and auctioned at the Tema Harbour but failed to deliver the vehicle.
Sarkodie has been charged with defrauding by false pretences and pleaded not guilty. The court granted him bail in the sum of GH¢600,000 with two sureties and directed him to report to the police every Monday.
Presenting the facts, the prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of Police Patience Mario, told the court that the complainant, Charles Amoakoh, is a car rental operator based at Adenta Pantang Junction, while the accused is a businessman residing at West Legon.
According to the prosecution, in May 2025, Sarkodie—who had been renting vehicles from the complainant—visited him at his garage and introduced himself as a National Security operative and an official of the National Democratic Congress. He allegedly claimed he could assist the complainant to acquire government-seized Toyota Land Cruisers being auctioned at GH¢500,000 each at the Tema Harbour.
Sarkodie further stated that he had an office near the Tema Community 18 Municipal Assembly and invited the complainant to meet him there with the money to facilitate the transaction.
On May 6, 2025, at about 10:00 a.m., the complainant, accompanied by two witnesses, met the accused at the specified location. The prosecution said Sarkodie asked for the money, explaining that it was needed to pay a token to some officials at the Assembly to enable smooth access to the vehicle.
While seated in the complainant’s car, Sarkodie allegedly collected the GH¢500,000 but intentionally left behind GH¢20,000, his Samsung mobile phone, and two reflective jackets before entering one of the Assembly buildings, claiming he was going to make the payment.
The court heard that the complainant waited for some time but became suspicious when Sarkodie failed to return. Attempts to locate him were unsuccessful, as he had switched off his phones and absconded.
A complaint was later lodged with the police, leading to Sarkodie’s arrest on September 11, 2025, following investigations. Further inquiries allegedly revealed that he was involved in several similar fraudulent schemes within Accra.
The case has been adjourned to March 9, 2026.
