Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hannan, acquired several high-value properties with funds from alleged financial crimes.

This was reported by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine during a briefing under the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House.

Dr Ayine indicated that, with the aid of the investigative process, it was discovered that the former CEO purchased luxury properties in Accra and Tamale, worth several million dollars and Ghana cedis using illicit funds.

The list of assets uncovered includes: A five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments worth $600,000, a Plots of land at Airport Development estimated at $750,000, a 17-bedroom boutique hotel at Gumani in Tamale valued at $250,000, a four-bedroom bungalow at Dworwulu, Accra, costing GHS 4,142,451and a 0.32-acre government land purchased for GHS 307,200

Additionally "Bank documents obtained by EOCO will reveal that within the period that the suspects operated this criminal enterprise, Mr Abdul-Wahab and his wife and their entities became the largest depositors at Republic Bank and the branch was at Labone."

"Lastly, we have also, we have frozen all the assets of Hannan that I've listed, including a GHs10 million fixed deposit account at Republic Bank Labone branch. That is the liquid assets. They also have a lot of bags. I didn't want to list them, the wife has over 61 luxury bags… He himself was buying watches, some costing as much as GHs1.5 million Ghana and so on.”

The AG clarified that the findings are part of extended investigation into a GHS 40.5 million money-laundering scheme involving Sawtina Enterprise, a company is said to have links to Mr. Hannan.

The Attorney-General said the government is taking steps to retrieve all assets acquired through criminal proceeds and ensure accountability in the management of public funds.

A list of luxury assets belonging to the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, were also made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.

His assets included a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land at the Airport Development Area worth $750,000.

Other properties included a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS 4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS 307,200.

The Attorney General made the disclosure while addressing journalists at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series. He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.

But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.

“I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.

“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.

Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted a GHS 30 million bail to his wife while her husband remained in custody pending fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.

The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.

On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being detained for 14 days.

Abdul-Wahab Hanan was released after meeting a GH¢60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors. On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency.

His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GH¢30 million. Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which described the terms as harsh and unfair.

A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.

Meanwhile, EOCO and two others—the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine (defendants)—have been dragged to court by the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye (plaintiff).

Abronye’s legal case is over the detention of suspects for over 48 hours on the basis that they have not met their bail conditions.

He wants the Supreme Court to declare that the continued detention of suspects by EOCO and NIB beyond 48 hours, solely on the basis that they have not met bail conditions—however excessive—constitutes a violation of Article 14(3) and is unconstitutional.

Abronye has prayed the apex court to give a proper interpretation of Article 14(3) of the Constitution. The law states that "A person who is arrested, restricted or detained for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of an order of a court; or upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed or being about to commit a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana, and who is not released, shall be brought before a court within forty-eight hours after the arrest, restriction or detention."

He asserts that the arresting institutions, including EOCO and NIB, lack constitutional authority to detain any person beyond 48 hours without judicial authorisation, regardless of whether bail has been granted but not executed, and wants the court to declare so.

Mr. Baffoe wants the court to tackle the issue of EOCO and NIB granting bail on excessive or punitive terms that deprive suspects of actual release. According to him, this "constitutes a constructive denial of bail" and "undermines the purpose and spirit of Article 14, especially clause 3."

The plaintiff is urging the court to issue an order directing EOCO and the NIB to take all necessary and lawful steps to ensure that all persons arrested and granted bail but unable to fulfil the bail conditions imposed are either released or brought before a court of competent jurisdiction within 48 hours of their arrest or detention.

The defendants have within fourteen days after the service on them of the statement of the plaintiff's case, inclusive of the day of service, to file or cause to be filed for them a statement of the defendant's case in an action of the suit. Abronye's legal redress comes after the detention and bail terms of some members of the erstwhile government.