The Circuit Court in Dansoman, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, has granted bail to a 49-year-old unemployed man, Ahmed Botchway, in the sum of GH¢80,000 with three sureties.
Two of the sureties are required to be public servants earning not less than GH¢5,000 monthly and residing within the court’s jurisdiction.
As part of his bail conditions, the accused is to deposit his Ghana Card at the court registry and report to the police once every week until further notice.
Ahmed Botchway has been charged with defrauding by false pretence, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the brief facts presented by the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainant, Jennifer Anima Boateng, a self-employed woman living at Abensu, near Pokuase, was allegedly defrauded by the accused in 2021.
The prosecution said the accused contacted the complainant’s brother, Benjamin AntwiBoateng, who resides in the United Kingdom, claiming he had a parcel of land for sale at Abensu.
After negotiations, the two parties agreed on a price of GH¢85,000, and a part payment of GH¢20,000 was made.
The complainant later completed payment of GH¢75,000, after which the accused handed over documents purported to cover the said land.
However, when the complainant began transporting building materials to the site to start construction, one Nana Addo appeared and claimed ownership of the land, producing a valid land title certificate to prove his claim.
Subsequent attempts by the complainant to reach the accused failed, prompting her to lodge a complaint with the police on July 9, 2025. Investigations revealed that the accused was already in police custody at the Central Police Station.
Upon interrogation, the accused admitted collecting the GH¢75,000, claiming he would refund the money by the end of August 2025, a promise he failed to fulfil.
After investigations, the accused was charged and arraigned before the court.
The court has directed the prosecution to file all disclosures and witness statements to facilitate the Case Management Conference (CMC) by November 26, 2025.
The case has been adjourned to a later date for continuation.
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