The Dansoman Circuit Court has granted bail to a businessman, Desmond Theke, who is facing a felony charge of stealing GH¢490,600 from his employer, Nigerian businessman, Solomon Okechukwu.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, is accused of misappropriating funds and goods entrusted to him while managing a clothing business in Accra.
The court granted Theke bail in the sum of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified with title deeds equivalent to the bail amount.
As part of the bail conditions, Theke is also required to deposit his Ghana Card at the court registry and report to the police every two weeks until further notice.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Emeila Mensah, informed the court that all disclosures and witness statements will be filed by August 25, 2025, to enable the court to commence Case Management Conference (CMC) proceedings.
Due to the felony nature of the offence, the court emphasised that the case cannot be referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
However, the parties may still attempt an out-of-court settlement if both sides are willing.
Background
According to court documents, the complainant, Mr. Okechukwu, operates a second-hand clothing business across Accra, Togo, and other African countries.
In 2024, he employed Theke to manage his Accra operations. During that period, he reportedly shipped 240 40-foot containers of used clothes to Ghana and also transferred funds to Theke for procurement purposes.
However, upon visiting Ghana on June 11, 2025, for stock-taking, Okechukwu discovered significant discrepancies in both goods and finances. Theke allegedly failed to account for the inventory and funds, leading the complainant to lodge a formal complaint with the Dansoman Police.
Both parties were subsequently advised to undertake a joint audit with neutral witnesses. The resulting audit revealed a total misappropriation of GH¢490,600, a figure confirmed in a signed document by the complainant, the accused and their respective witnesses.
The accused was arrested on the same day the complaint was made and later charged under Section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which relates to the offence of stealing.
The case is being investigated by Detective Chief Inspector Godwin Kenny Quarcoo.
