A Trader Faces Charges of Stealing and Money Laundering After Refunding GH¢230,000
A trader, Constance Gyasi Nimako, also known as Maa Adwoa, has refunded GH¢230,000 out of GH¢800,000 mistakenly credited to her bank account, but remains in custody as she faces charges of stealing and money laundering.
Refund and Court Appearance
Although she was absent from court, her lawyer informed the Accra Circuit Court of the partial refund. Her mother, Cecilia Gyasi, appeared on her behalf before relieving judge Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah. The court declined a bail request, citing plans for a fast-tracked trial, and directed the prosecution to file disclosures ahead of the next hearing on July 23, 2025.
Misuse of Funds
Constance is accused of spending GH¢770,500 of the funds erroneously transferred into her Ecobank account on February 6, 2025. According to the prosecution, she moved GH¢300,000 to her mother’s Fidelity Bank account, GH¢400,000 to her GCB Bank account, and withdrew GH¢70,500 in cash, leaving only GH¢29,778.47.
Legal Proceedings
Both Constance and her mother have pleaded not guilty. Cecilia Gyasi has been granted bail of GH¢500,000 with two sureties who must be close family members earning a minimum of GH¢2,000 per month. She faces charges of abetting a crime, to wit, money laundering.
Mistaken Transfer
The complainant, a company CEO, had instructed Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) to transfer GH¢800,000 to his personal Ecobank account. The funds were mistakenly sent to Constance’s account. Efforts by CBG and Ecobank to retrieve the money failed after Constance allegedly moved it quickly across various accounts.
Police Involvement
CBG’s Head of Security and Investigations assisted in reporting the matter to the police. The prosecution said Constance refused to cooperate, insulted officers, and went into hiding before her arrest in Kumasi. Her mother was arrested in Accra.
Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Investigations show that Constance informed her mother about the funds and instructed her to withdraw GH¢300,000. During questioning, she claimed the money came from a foreign company she had no prior dealings with and said she had used it to order goods. Police are continuing efforts to trace and recover the remaining amount.
