EOCO Returns Assets to Former NAFCO Chief as GH¢78M Fraud Trial Continues

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has returned seized cash and electronic equipment to Alhaji Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), who is currently standing trial for allegedly orchestrating a GH¢78 million financial loss to the state.

The returned items include £6,700, GH¢2,750, laptops and mobile phones that were confiscated on 5 July when Hanan was arrested at Accra International Airport whilst attempting to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. The High Court had previously authorised his travel, but the arrest occurred at the airport nonetheless.

Hanan's legal team, led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, had filed an urgent application requesting the release of the confiscated items to facilitate proper preparation of the defence. However, before the court could hear arguments, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai informed the court on Wednesday that EOCO had already returned the materials, prompting Mr Dame to withdraw the application.

The Charges and Allegations

Hanan, along with his wife Faiza Wuni and three other accused persons, faces 24 charges including conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, fraud by false pretences, money laundering and intentional dissipation of public funds. All defendants have entered not-guilty pleas.

According to the prosecution, Hanan and NAFCO's Head of Finance, Richard Sam-Asante, orchestrated transfers totalling GH¢69.6 million to Sawtina Enterprise, a company owned by NAFCO's Regional Manager James Tieku-Apawu. Prosecutors allege that only 20 per cent of this amount was utilised for legitimate food supply purchases, with the remaining funds allegedly diverted through companies linked to Hanan and his wife. Sam-Asante is reportedly at large as investigations continue.

The total financial loss attributed to these transactions stands at GH¢50,879,210. Both Hanan and his wife were granted bail totalling GH¢150 million and remain subject to the Ghana Immigration Service stop list, restricting their travel abroad.

Why It Matters for Ghana

This case represents a significant test of Ghana's commitment to investigating and prosecuting public sector corruption and financial mismanagement. NAFCO, a state-owned institution responsible for food security and agricultural stabilisation, is critical infrastructure whose resources ultimately derive from taxpayer funds.

The scale of alleged loss—GH¢50 million-plus—underscores the urgency of strengthening financial oversight mechanisms within state agencies. The involvement of multiple parties, including company owners and regional managers, suggests systemic vulnerability to organised financial crime within government procurement systems. The trial's progress will signal to the public and international observers whether Ghana's institutions can effectively hold senior officials accountable for large-scale public fund diversion.

Additionally, the case highlights tensions between suspects' procedural rights (access to seized assets for defence preparation) and investigative authority, an ongoing balance Ghana's courts continue to navigate in high-stakes financial crime prosecutions.

The trial has been adjourned to Tuesday, 20 October, as the defence team seeks to access data from the mobile phones, which required charging after remaining unused since their return on Monday.