The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Dora Gloria Araba Eshun, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, to be justified, to a 55-year-old businessman accused of defrauding a contractor of GH¢400,000 under the pretext of selling him a wheel loader.
The accused, Bawa Yusif Sarkodie, appeared before the court on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime (defrauding by false pretence) and defrauding by false pretence, contrary to Sections 23(1) and 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Alleged Fraud
According to the prosecution, led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, the incident occurred on January 31, 2025, at the GCB Bank High Street Branch in Accra.
The complainant, James Gyekye, a Cape Coast-based contractor, was seeking a wheel loader for his construction operations when he was introduced by a driver, Isaac Ocran, to one of the accused’s accomplices, Fred, who is currently on the run.
Fred allegedly claimed that his partner, Yaw Sam (also at large), had connections at the Flagstaff House and access to heavy-duty machinery. Gyekye was subsequently introduced to Sarkodie, who reportedly posed as both a Presidential staffer and a machinery dealer.
Prosecutors told the court that Sarkodie led Gyekye and Ocran to a garage at Shiashie, where he produced an ignition key to one of the parked wheel loaders, convincing the contractor that he was the rightful owner.
Gyekye was then taken to the GCB Bank High Street Branch, where he withdrew GH¢400,000 and handed it over to Sarkodie for the supposed processing of ownership documents.
Sarkodie is said to have taken Gyekye to the Flagstaff House reception, instructing him to wait while he retrieved the paperwork. He never returned and subsequently went into hiding.
Arrest and Proceedings
After several months on the run, Sarkodie was arrested on September 15, 2025, at Weija, during a separate investigation into similar fraud cases.
Police say he admitted to the offence during interrogation and identified his accomplices, Yaw Sam and Fred, but has refused to assist officers in locating them.
He was formally charged and arraigned before the Circuit Court in Accra.
The matter has been adjourned to October 14, 2025, while efforts continue to apprehend the two fugitives.