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Attorney general details alleged COCOBOD contract fraud involving Kofi Akpaloo
The Attorney General, Dominic Ayine, has detailed an alleged fraud case involving Mr Percival Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana, linking it to suspicious financial transactions connected to a COCOBOD feeder road contract.
Addressing the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House, he explained that the Financial Intelligence Centre flagged unusual transactions on an account held at First Bank Ghana and filed a Suspicious Transaction Report.
He noted that this action prompted an investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office, which established that Pomaa Universal (Gh.) Ltd, owned entirely by Akua Pomaa, was the rightful contractor awarded a COCOBOD feeder road project valued at over GH₵29.5 million in December 2020.
According to him, the project began and the first payment was correctly paid into the company’s account.
He explained that problems emerged with later payments, which raised red flags about misrepresentation, forgery and the unauthorized handling of cheques.
He disclosed that investigations showed Mr Akpaloo secretly registered a second company named Pomaah Universal (Gh.) Ltd, deliberately designed to closely resemble the original firm, with the difference being the addition of the letter “h”.
He stated that between December 2022 and June 2024, Mr Akpaloo collected eight cheques issued by the Ghana Cocoa Board in the name of Pomaa Universal (Gh.) Ltd, amounting to GH₵3,169,432.22, and deposited them into the account of his own company at First Bank Ghana.
He further explained that Akua Pomaa only became aware of the diversion in June 2024 after COCOBOD contacted her about outstanding payments on the contract. Upon making checks, she discovered that the funds had been redirected without her approval.
He added that she also alleged her signature was forged on the COCOBOD contract, using her former name, Mercy Owusu, to secure the agreement without her consent.
According to him, internal investigations by First Bank Ghana confirmed the fraud claims and concluded that Mr Akpaloo knowingly misrepresented ownership of the cheques.
He pointed out that the bank admitted operational failures, including its inability to detect differences between cheque payee names and account details.
He mentioned that the suspects investigated include Percival Kofi Akpaloo, Pomaah Universal (Gh.) Ltd and Delvine Akpaloo, the spouse of Mr Akpaloo.
He stressed that the evidence points to offences such as stealing, forgery and money laundering, adding that the suspects are expected to be charged in January as part of the accountability process.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
