Accra, Ghana – A 43-year-old clerk from a law firm in Accra has been granted bail after being charged with abetting a businessman in defrauding a farmer of GH?150,000.00. The Accra Circuit Court presided over the case involving Mr. Raymond Opoku Agyemang, who allegedly collaborated with the businessman to swindle the farmer under the guise of providing a tractor and a plough.
According to Ghana News Agency, who represented Police Chief Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, the clerk pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment of crime. The Court, led by Mrs. Afia Owusuaa Appiah, set the bail at GH?150,000.00 with sureties, all of whom must be within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Court also directed the prosecution to file and serve all disclosures and witness statements before the next adjourned date, December 11, 2023. The accused’s accomplice, Ikena Okoro Sylvester, remains at large.
The prosecution detailed that the complainant, Mr. Usman Huudu, a teacher and farmer from Jujeidayiri in the Upper West Region of Ghana, was drawn to an online advertisement for farm machines and implements posted by Okoro. Okoro, posing as the sales manager of Agyemang’s company, Rayfranc Ghana Company Limited, assured Huudu that they could supply any needed equipment. Following this, Huudu expressed interest in purchasing a Massey Ferguson tractor with a plough, priced at GH?150,000.00.
To finance the purchase, Huudu contacted Farm Line Company Limited, which assists farmers in various capacities. The company requested a pro-forma invoice and account details, which Okoro provided with Agyemang’s company logo on it. On June 2, 2023, Farm Line Company Limited transferred the money to Agyemang’s company account at UMB Bank, Accra.
Following the transaction, Agyemang reportedly withdrew the money and Okoro notified Huudu to collect the tractor and plough. However, when Huudu arrived in Accra on June 4, 2023, Okoro’s phone was off, and Agyemang allegedly failed to provide directions to retrieve the tractor. Realizing the potential fraud, Huudu lodged a complaint with the police.
Agyemang later reported himself to the CID Headquarters and was arrested. He denied knowledge of the offense but admitted to withdrawing the money and handing it over to Okoro, claiming he only received GH?5,000.00 from the amount. Agyemang failed to assist the police in locating Okoro.