A 53-year-old businessman, Seth Otupri Ntim, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly siphoning more than GH¢14.5 million from two bank accounts belonging to Sontim Group Limited—a construction company backed by the late Member of Parliament for Ejisu, John Ampontua Kumah.
The accused, who was closely associated with the firm’s financial dealings, is facing two counts of stealing under Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended by NLCD 398 of 1969.
Ntim, who appeared in court on Tuesday, July 2, 2025, entered a plea of not guilty to both charges when they were read to him by the court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit.
His legal counsel, in applying for bail, assured the court of his client’s willingness to cooperate fully with investigators.
The court granted the accused bail in the sum of GH¢15 million, with three sureties. Two of the sureties are required to be public servants earning a minimum monthly salary of GH¢10,000, while the third must present title deeds equivalent in value to the bail sum as justification.
Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, who is leading the prosecution, informed the court that due to the significant financial value of the alleged offence, the matter would be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for legal guidance on how to proceed.
Background
According to prosecutors, Sontim Group Limited was established in 2016 through the initiative of Joyce Kumah and was entirely financed by her brother, John Kumah. The company was created to operate in the general construction sector.
The court was told that banking arrangements for the firm included two accounts: one at NIB (Law Complex Branch) managed solely by Joyce Kumah, and another at GTBank (Graphic Road Branch), where Lilian Kumah served as the only signatory.
It was stated that Ntim, a U.S. returnee and a member of Pastor Lilian Kumah’s church, Disciples of Christ Ministry, Weija-Accra, was introduced as a shareholder and board member, receiving dividends but with no access to the company’s operational accounts.
The accused was said to have also used a separate account under the company’s name to operate a forex bureau.
However, after the MP’s passing in March 2024, the board resolved that all interest payments from a Government of Ghana bond investment be paid into Lilian Kumah’s personal NIB account.
It was also agreed that Theophilus Owusu Gyimah, Lilian’s younger brother, be added as a co-signatory to the company’s NIB account, alongside Joyce Kumah.
Despite these resolutions, prosecutors alleged that in October 2024, Ntim unilaterally altered the signatories to both the GTBank and NIB accounts without the consent or knowledge of either Joyce or Lilian Kumah.
Suspicion was raised when Lilian began receiving SMS alerts—on her late husband’s mobile phone of cash withdrawals from the GTBank account. Upon inquiry at the bank, she was informed that Ntim had changed the account signatories.
Thus, in December 2024, Ntim unlawfully withdrew GH¢1,000,000 from Sontim Group’s GTBank account, which was under the direct control of Lilian Kumah, wife of the late MP and a signatory to the account.
Further investigations revealed that in February 2025, Ntim allegedly liquidated a Government of Ghana bond worth GH¢13,500,000, held in the company’s National Investment Bank (NIB) account.
When confronted, Ntim reportedly went into hiding. A formal complaint was filed with the Regional CID, Accra, which led to his arrest. In a cautioned statement, given in the presence of his lawyer and an independent witness, Ntim allegedly admitted to using the entire GH¢14.5 million for his personal business activities.
Police say investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged fraud and identify any additional individuals or assets linked to the missing funds.
