The Ghana Police Service is on a manhunt for a couple accused of defrauding their landlady of GH¢260,000 in Sakumono, Accra.
This follows the issuance of a bench warrant for their arrest by the Accra Circuit Court on August 21, 2024.
Gifty Ansu Gyamfi, a trader, and Stephen Appau, a miner, stand accused of collecting the substantial sum under the pretence of supplying gold to their landlady, Doris Animah Tando.
The couple reportedly failed to deliver the promised gold, leading to charges of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences.
The case was scheduled for a hearing on September 4, 2024, but both Gyamfi and Appau were absent from court.
The prosecution told the court that efforts to get them to attend previous proceedings have proved futile.
As a result, presiding Judge Mr. Isaac Addo issued a bench warrant for their arrest and adjourned the case to September 4, 2024.
But the couple failed to show up again, with the judge reinforcing the earlier warrant.
The facts before the court suggest that Tando, a businesswoman residing in Sakumono, had rented property to Gyamfi and Appau.
In 2022, the couple allegedly received GH¢260,000 from Tando for the purchase of gold, which was never delivered.
Appau subsequently went into hiding, and numerous attempts by Tando to recover the gold or her money were unsuccessful.
Gifty Gyamfi was arrested and, in her caution statement, claimed she received only GH¢60,000 from Tando, with the remainder going to Appau.
Despite repeated invitations to the police station, Appau did not comply, offering various excuses for his absence.
In March 2024, Appau provided an undertaking letter through Gyamfi, promising to refund the money within three months.
However, he failed to fulfil this promise.