The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, has granted bail to a 49-year-old businessman, Bernard Aboagye, who has been charged with defrauding by false pretence in connection with the alleged fraudulent acquisition of 18 bags of ginger worth GH¢68,400.
According to brief facts presented in court, the complainant, Adam Abdulai, a businessman from Bonsu Nkwanta in the Western North Region, encountered the accused via the JWI app in March 2025.
Aboagye expressed interest in purchasing 100 bags of ginger, prompting Abdulai to source the product.
On May 19, 2025 Adam Abdulai arrived at the Agbogbloshie market with 18 bags of ginger and met with Bernard Aboagye to negotiate the price, which was agreed at GH¢3,800 per bag.
After the complainant stepped away briefly to attend prayers at a nearby mosque, he returned to find the ginger missing.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Bernard Aboagye had sold the ginger to a third party and provided Adam Abdulai with a Prudential Bank cheque of GH¢68,400.
The complainant rejected the cheque, requesting cash instead. Bernard Aboagye assured him the cheque would be cleared on Monday, May 20.
When the two visited the Prudential Bank Kingsway branch the next day, they were informed that the cheque could not be cashed due to third-party restrictions.
Bernard Aboagye then led Adam Abdulai to Tema in search of the supposed buyer, but was unable to identify the individual or their residence, admitting he had only spoken with the person over the phone.
Efforts to contact the alleged buyer and an accomplice have so far proven futile, and police are working with telecommunications companies to retrieve their details.
Bernard Aboagye has pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretence, contrary to section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The court granted him bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 with three sureties, all of whom must be public servants earning at least GH¢5,000 monthly and residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
He is also required to deposit his Ghana Card with the court registry and report weekly to the police.
Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder is expected to file disclosures and witness statements before the commencement of the Case Management Conference (CMC) on July 27, 2025.
