The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, his wife Faiza Seidu Wuni, and three associated entities have been charged with the alleged theft and laundering of more than ₵78 million in public funds.
The Attorney-General’s Department filed 24 criminal charges at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, accusing the couple and their collaborators of running a network of fraudulent transactions that diverted millions from the state-run food supply agency between 2017 and 2025.
The accused persons include Mr. Aludiba, his wife Faiza, The Aludiba Foundation, Energy Partners Limited, and Richard Sam-Asante, the former Head of Finance at NAFCO, who is currently on the run.
According to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the group faces charges of stealing, money laundering, fraudulent procurement, causing financial loss to the Republic, and abuse of public office for personal gain.
If found guilty, the former CEO could face severe penalties under Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Act 1044), and the Public Procurement Act.
Court documents reveal that Mr. Aludiba allegedly diverted over ₵50.8 million through payments to Sawtina Enterprise, a company registered under James Tieku-Apawu, then a NAFCO regional manager.
EOCO investigations suggest that 80% of these payments had no traceable deliveries or supply contracts to support them. Instead, significant amounts of the money reportedly found their way into accounts linked to the ex-CEO, his wife, and their related businesses.
Sources familiar with the probe say investigators uncovered a web of transactions and transfers designed to conceal the movement of public funds — a pattern that spanned several years and regions.
Further forensic analysis by EOCO found that Mr. Aludiba allegedly ordered additional payments to companies directly controlled by himself and his wife, including:
- ₵5.49 million to Aludiba Enterprise (his personal company)
- ₵4.4 million to Alqarni Enterprise (owned by his wife)
- ₵251,050 to Energy Partners Limited (a firm under his control)
Investigators say these entities were not registered suppliers with the Buffer Stock Company and had no legitimate contracts or service records to justify the transfers.
A source close to the case described the transactions as “systematic and premeditated misuse of state funds.”
Between 2020 and 2022, prosecutors allege, Mr. Aludiba channelled ₵13.2 million from NAFCO accounts into Fa-Hausa Ventures, a business registered in his wife’s name. Both were reportedly signatories to the account.
The funds were allegedly used to acquire properties and investments in Accra, Tamale, and other parts of the country, and to finance The Aludiba Foundation, which investigators suspect was a front organisation used to launder proceeds of crime.
EOCO launched its investigation earlier this year after receiving intelligence reports suggesting large-scale financial misconduct at NAFCO.
Arrests and Coordinated Operations (NAFCO)
Mr. Aludiba was arrested on June 25, 2025, at his residence at Chain Homes Estate, Airport East, Accra, and later released on police inquiry bail.
His wife and other associates were picked up in simultaneous operations in Accra and Tamale, while Richard Sam-Asante, NAFCO’s Head of Finance, remains at large and is being pursued by law enforcement agencies.
Officials from EOCO have since frozen several bank accounts and confiscated assets believed to have been purchased with stolen funds.
Among the 24 charges filed by the Attorney-General’s Office are:
- Stealing — Section 124(1), Criminal Offences Act (Act 29)
- Money Laundering — Anti-Money Laundering Act (Act 1044)
- Fraudulently Causing Financial Loss to the Republic
- Using Public Office for Profit — Section 179C, Act 29
- Intentional Dissipation of Public Funds — SMCD 140
The case has been officially assigned to the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra. Prosecutors plan to call EOCO officials, bank representatives, and auditors as witnesses. The Attorney-General signed the charges on October 28, 2025.
The case has reignited public debate over corruption and governance in Ghana’s state-owned enterprises, particularly agencies tasked with managing essential services such as food distribution and storage.
The National Food and Buffer Stock Company plays a crucial role in stabilising food prices, purchasing produce from farmers, and supplying senior high schools under the Free SHS policy.
Analysts say mismanagement of funds at NAFCO could undermine food security, delay payments to suppliers, and erode public confidence in government institutions.
A 2024 report by the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education estimated that financial irregularities within state-owned enterprises cost Ghana over ₵5 billion annually — a trend experts say could threaten national development goals if left unchecked.
The trial is expected to begin before the end of the year. Legal experts note that the case will test the government’s commitment to tackling high-level corruption and ensuring accountability for public funds.
If convicted, the accused could face lengthy prison sentences, confiscation of assets, and possible restitution of the stolen money.
The Attorney-General’s office has indicated that it will pursue civil recovery proceedings alongside the criminal trial to retrieve any unlawfully acquired assets.
The ₵78 million NAFCO case underscores ongoing challenges in public-sector financial oversight and the urgent need for stronger internal controls across government institutions.
While the legal process is ongoing, the outcome will be closely watched as a benchmark for transparency and accountability in Ghana’s fight against corruption.
