His Honour Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah, presiding over Circuit Court 6 in Accra, has granted bail to a 40-year-old travel agent, Augustine Opoku Anaman, who is facing two counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Augustine Opoku Anaman pleaded not guilty to all charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.
The case has been adjourned to January 21, 2026 while the court has ordered the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Abel Amanie, under the supervision of DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, to file all disclosures.
Augustine Opoku Anaman is accused of defrauding two individuals; Elizabeth Tieku, a banker residing at Osu and Kwasi Kayi, a Carpenter from Kasoa Ofankor, under the guise of securing foreign visas for them.
He allegedly obtained GH¢30,000 from Elizabeth Tieku, after promising to secure a United States visa, a representation prosecutors say he knew was false.
He is further accused of taking GH¢48,000 from Kwasi Kayi, on the assurance of procuring a Canadian visa, which also allegedly turned out to be false.
Both counts are contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the prosecution, the complainants approached Anaman in 2024 at his office at Kasoa New Market Road as part of their efforts to travel abroad.
He allegedly presented himself as a credible travel agent capable of securing visas to various destinations.
He reportedly charged GH¢60,000 for the U.S. visa application and GH¢100,000 for the Canadian package, collecting initial commitment fees of GH¢30,000 and GH¢48,000 respectively. He allegedly promised to deliver the visas within four months.
However, the prosecution said the accused failed to fulfil his promise and subsequently went into hiding. After the complainants lodged a report, police traced and arrested him at a hideout in Winneba.
In his caution statement, he admitted receiving the funds but failed to explain what he used them for.
Investigators say additional complaints have since been lodged against him as inquiries continue.
The case will resume in January next year for further proceedings.
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