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Attorney General rejects plea deals in Wontumi case
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that he rejected several plea deal offers made by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in relation to his ongoing illegal mining case.
Wontumi, who is the first accused in a case involving Akonta Mining Company Limited, is facing multiple charges, including facilitating unlicensed mining operations and assigning mineral rights without ministerial approval. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Addressing journalists at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine stressed that he has not been influenced or pressured by anyone, including President John Dramani Mahama or the Chief of Staff, to negotiate plea bargains in any criminal case.
“I’m under no pressure from any quarters to cut deals,” Dr. Ayine stated. “Mr. President, who is my boss, has not put any pressure on me. He gives me his blessings when I brief him. The Chief of Staff has not put pressure on me to cut deals with anybody.”
He confirmed that several offers had been made in the Wontumi case but insisted on allowing the judicial process to take its full course.
“Offers have been made, but I have turned all of them down. I have told everybody, please go to court. In the Wontumi case, offers were made to us for a plea bargain, but I said no — I’m filing charges. If you want to announce your intention for a plea deal, do it before the judge. That is now my strategy,” he explained.
Dr. Ayine dismissed claims that he was negotiating plea deals with NPP officials, describing such reports as politically motivated.
“The NPP took advantage and said I was cutting deals. No deals have been cut and no deal will be cut,” he maintained.
Chairman Wontumi has been granted bail in two separate rulings by different High Courts in Accra.
In the first ruling, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay granted him bail in the sum of GH¢15 million with three sureties, two of whom must justify with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
In the second case, Justice Ruby Aryeetey granted Wontumi and Edward Akuoko, the Operations Manager of Akonta Mining, GH¢10 million bail each with two sureties, one of whom must justify with property.
Wontumi has since met the bail conditions and been released from custody as proceedings continue in both cases involving Akonta Mining Company Limited.
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Former Buffer Stock CEO, wife to be charged with stealing and money laundering – Ayine
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, will be charged with multiple offences, including stealing and money laundering.
Addressing journalists at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine revealed that the formal charges will be filed on Friday, October 24, 2025.
“On account of the foregoing, we have decided to charge Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni with stealing, conspiracy to steal, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, obtaining public property by false statements and money laundering. The charges will be filed on Friday, October 24, 2025,” he announced.
The Attorney General said investigations by his office have uncovered a complex money laundering scheme involving suspicious transactions amounting to over GHS 40.5 million channelled through Sawtina Enterprise, a company linked to the former CEO.
Dr. Ayine indicated that the funds were transferred to several individuals and entities in a pattern suggesting deliberate efforts to conceal the source of the money.
The Attorney General reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in public service, stressing that his office would continue to pursue cases backed by solid evidence.
The breakdown of the transfers is as follows:
* GHS 16,179,137.25 from Sawtina Enterprise to Hanan Abdul-Wahab
* GHS 23,913,964.90 from Sawtina Enterprise to Alqarni Enterprise
* GHS 500,000.00 from Sawtina Enterprise to Fa-Hausa Ventures
* GHS 550,000.00 from Sawtina Enterprise to Chain Homes Ghana Ltd
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Criminal cases: I’m under no pressure to cut deals – Attorney General
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has refuted claims that he is under political pressure to negotiate plea bargains in ongoing criminal cases.
Addressing journalists at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, October 22, Dr. Ayine said neither President John Dramani Mahama nor the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has influenced or directed him to enter plea negotiations with any accused person.
“I’m under no pressure from any quarters to cut deals,” Dr. Ayine stated. “Mr. President, who is my boss, has not put any pressure on me. He gives me his blessings when I brief him. The Chief of Staff has not put pressure on me to cut deals with anybody.”
He clarified that while offers for plea bargains have been made in some cases, he has rejected all of them, insisting that due legal processes must be followed.
“Offers have been made, but I have turned all of them down. I have told everybody, please go to court. If you want to announce your intention for a plea deal, do it before the judge. That is now my strategy,” he said.
Dr. Ayine also dismissed suggestions that he had entered into covert agreements with officials of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing such allegations as politically motivated.
“The NPP took advantage and said I was cutting deals. No deals have been cut and no deal will be cut,” he emphasised.
The Attorney General reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law, stating that all cases before his office would be prosecuted fairly and transparently without fear or favour.
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Govt freezes over GHS10m, luxury properties and vehicles linked to Ex-Buffer Stock CEO
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced the freezing of multiple assets belonging to the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, in what he described as one of Ghana’s biggest corruption and money laundering cases in recent years.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, Dr Ayine revealed that a fixed deposit account containing GHS 10 million at Republic Bank’s Labone branch, several luxury properties, vehicles, and 61 designer handbags have been frozen as part of ongoing criminal proceedings.
According to the Attorney General, between 2019 and 2024, the couple allegedly used a network of shell companies, including Sawtina Enterprise, Alqarni Enterprise and Fa-Hausa Ventures, to siphon and launder funds from the National Food Buffer Stock accounts, disguising them as legitimate payments.
Lavish property acquisitions
Key assets linked to the scheme include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes purchased for $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments acquired for $600,000, and plots of land at the Airport Development Site bought for $750,000 in cash. Construction of a luxury residence on the site — valued at $2.5 million — was later awarded to Mendanha and Sousa Construction Ltd.
Dr Ayine also highlighted the controversial acquisition of a 0.32-acre government plot through a third party, Anthony Duke Essien. The land was initially procured for GHS 307,200 but later sold to Hanan Abdul-Wahab for GHS 2.57 million using funds traced from Buffer Stock accounts. Four units of four-bedroom apartments have since been developed on the land.
Additional properties under the radar
The Attorney General further listed other properties believed to have been purchased with diverted public funds. These include:
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A 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, fronted through a Villa Monticello franchise for $250,000.
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A four-bedroom bungalow in Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at GHS 4.14 million.
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A three-storey commercial building hosting Chicken Republic at Estate Junction, Tamale.
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A five-bedroom mansion at Kanvili, Tamale.
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A three-bedroom house at Kpalsi, Tamale.
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A storey building at No. 10 Selby Gardens, Achimota, Accra.
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A 0.27-acre plot at Estate Junction, Tamale.
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A 0.29-acre plot near Workers College, Tamale.
Scheme tied to school feeding funds
Dr Ayine said the assets were traced through a coordinated fraud scheme that diverted funds meant for the National School Feeding Programme. Payments made from Buffer Stock’s accounts to shell entities were quickly moved to companies controlled by the couple and their associates.
“All the assets identified as proceeds of crime have been frozen and will be subject to confiscation by the state as the criminal trial progresses,” Dr Ayine stated.
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AG’s allegations against me untrue – Former Buffer Stock CEO
Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, has rejected claims linking him to an alleged corruption and money laundering scandal at the company.
His response follows revelations by the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, during the Government Accountability Series in Accra, on Wednesday, October 22, where Dr. Ayine alleged that more than GHS 40 million had been channelled through Sawtina Enterprise to various individuals and entities — including Hanan — in what investigators suspect to be a money laundering scheme tied to his tenure.
In a statement released on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Mr. Hanan dismissed the Attorney General’s assertions as false, misleading, and injurious to his reputation, maintaining that he had no role in any alleged misconduct.
“My attention has been drawn to recent statements made by the Honourable Attorney General during a press engagement, in which my name was mentioned in connectin with allegations of corruption,” the statement read.
“I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue, and do not relect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to…”
Describing the allegations as “deeply unfortunate,” Mr. Hanan insisted that he has no link to any transactions under probe and has instructed his lawyers to study the matter and advise accordingly.
“I have asked my legal representatives tyo review the situation and to advise on the appropriate steps to protect my reputation. to address these claims and to take the necessary steps to safeguard my integrity. I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” he added.
