Trader Granted GH¢50,000 Bail over charges of defrauding by False Pretence
The Nsuta Circuit Court in the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region has granted bail of GH¢50,000 to a 27-year-old trader, Ophelia Amponsah, who is facing a charge of defrauding by false pretence.
The court, presided over by His Lordship Simon Nketiah Gagah, granted the accused bail with two sureties, one of whom is required to be justified.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Owusu Kobi Moses, told the court that the complainant is a branch manager of Yakman Marketing Company, based at Buoho, while the accused is a trader residing at Tatafroso-Mampong.
According to the prosecution, in May 2026, Amponsah visited the company and obtained cosmetics valued at GH¢8,000 to sell, with an agreement to render accounts within a week.
The prosecution said the accused subsequently made payment for the goods, thereby gaining the confidence of the complainant.
On June 22, 2026, she allegedly collected additional cosmetics worth GH¢20,195, promising to account for the proceeds within two weeks.
However, after making a payment of only GH¢500, the accused failed to settle the outstanding amount or return the remaining goods.
The prosecution further told the court that attempts by the complainant to reach her were unsuccessful, as she allegedly gave various explanations whenever contacted.
The matter was reported to the police on August 27, 2026. Two days later, on August 29, police officers, acting on intelligence, arrested Amponsah at Mampong.
A search of her residence reportedly led to the recovery of some of the complainant’s cosmetics valued at GH¢11,580.
During investigations, the prosecution said, the accused admitted the offence in her caution statement.
She reportedly explained that 15 shower gels valued at GH¢975 were damaged while she was transporting them to the Ejura market.
She further stated that GH¢5,000 realised from the sale of some of the products had been advanced to Bills Micro Credit in connection with a loan application of GH¢18,000, which she had yet to receive. Another GH¢4,000 worth of products, she said, had been credited to some of her customers.
According to her statement, the remaining GH¢9,720 was used to purchase ladies’ sandals from Kumasi for resale at Ejura, where she had relocated without informing the complainant.
When the accused pleaded guilty with an explanation, the court allowed her to address the court on the circumstances surrounding the case.
Amponsah told the court that the complainant was her boyfriend and that they had been in a relationship for some time.
She alleged that she had used part of the money to prepare food for him and that he had even promised to marry her. She therefore said she never anticipated that he would report the matter to the police.
The complainant, however, denied the accused’s claim that the two had been involved in an amorous relationship.
After hearing the explanation, the court entered a plea of guilty, holding that the accused’s explanation did not amount to a defence to the charge.
The court subsequently granted her bail in the sum of GH¢50,000, with two sureties, one of whom must be justified. She was also directed to make efforts to settle the outstanding debt before the next court date.
The case has been adjourned to September 16, 2026, for further proceedings, including conviction and sentencing.
