The Circuit Court in Accra, presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah, has granted bail in the sum of GH¢900,000 to Kwabena Poku-Acheampong, a former staff of First Atlantic Bank, accused of stealing funds belonging to a client of the bank, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Ghana.
Kwabena Poku-Acheampong, who appeared before the court on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to 30 counts including stealing, conspiracy to steal, forgery, and uttering forged documents.
The prosecution, led by Assistant State Attorney Ernest Appiah, did not oppose bail but urged the court to impose stringent conditions to ensure the accused’s attendance during trial.
His counsel, however, pleaded that Kwabena Poku-Acheampong be maintained on his previous bail, arguing that he had consistently complied with all conditions and had been punctual to court throughout the proceedings.
After considering both submissions, the court admitted the accused to bail in the sum of GH¢900,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified while the other must be a government employee earning not less than GH¢2,000 monthly.
The accused is also to report every other Thursday to the investigator in the case.
Meanwhile, the court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the second accused, Prince OkyereAmoako, who failed to appear before the court.
Allegations
According to the facts presented by the prosecution, the complainant, an auditor at First Atlantic Bank, reported that between August and October, 2024 Kwabena Poku-Acheampong, who then served as a relationship officer responsible for client account management, allegedly made unauthorised transfers from the Coptic Orthodox Church of Ghana’s cedi and dollar accounts.
Investigations by the bank revealed that several transfers amounting to GH¢177,000 and US$134,800 were made from the church’s accounts into those of Prinkof Ventures, owned by the second accused person, Prince Okyere Amoako.
The prosecution alleged that Kwabena Poku-Acheampong forged account-to-account transfer forms, presented them as genuine to deceive the bank and subsequently caused the funds to be transferred into Prince Okyere Amoako’s business accounts.
The two then allegedly withdrew and used the funds for their personal benefit.
Upon interrogation, the former banker reportedly admitted diverting the funds without authorization and has since refunded GH¢177,000 and US$48,000 of the stolen sums.
The case has been adjourned for Case Management Conference (CMC) on November 12, 2025, by which time the prosecution is expected to have filed its witness statements.
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