The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that the leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Percival Kofi Akpaloo, together with two others, will be prosecuted for alleged forgery and related offences.
“The suspects who have been investigated are Percival Kofi Akpaloo, Pomaah Universal (Gh.) Ltd, and Delvine Akpaloo, the spouse of Percival Kofi Akpaloo. The evidence shows that they engaged in various criminal offences, including stealing, forgery and money laundering, and will be charged by my office in January,” Dr Ayine stated.
The announcement follows investigations into suspected financial impropriety linked to a COCOBOD feeder roads contract.
Addressing the media, the Attorney-General explained that the case came to light after the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) detected unusual transactions on an account belonging to Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company associated with Mr Akpaloo. The FIC subsequently filed a suspicious transaction report with First Bank Ghana Limited.
“Following the report, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) commenced investigations into the matter,” he said.
According to Dr Ayine, investigations established that the legitimate contractor awarded the feeder roads project by COCOBOD was Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company solely owned by a woman identified as Akua Pomaa. The GH¢29 million contract was awarded in December 2022, and initial payments were duly made to the rightful company.
However, he noted that subsequent financial dealings raised red flags, including allegations of misrepresentation, forgery and the unauthorised handling of cheques.
Dr Ayine disclosed that Mr Akpaloo allegedly went on to register a second company with an almost identical name — Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited — deliberately adding the letter “H” to create a subtle distinction.
“Between December 2022 and June 2024, he collected eight cheques issued by COCOBOD in the name of the original and authentic Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, totalling GH¢3.1 million, and deposited them into an account belonging to the company he had created,” the Attorney-General revealed.
He further stated that Akua Pomaa was unaware of the existence of the second company or the diversion of funds until June 2024, when COCOBOD contacted her regarding outstanding balances on the contract.
Dr Ayine said the case underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding public funds and ensuring accountability in the management of public contracts.
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