An Accra Circuit Court has remanded self-acclaimed businessman, Bawa Yusif Sarkodie, for allegedly defrauding a contractor of GH¢400,000 under the guise of supplying him with a wheel loader machine.
Sarkodie, together with his alleged accomplices identified as Yaw Sam and Fred—currently at large—reportedly collected the money from the complainant, James Gyekye, but failed to deliver the machine.
He has been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences. Sarkodie pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the court, presided over by Mrs. Dora Eshun, who granted him bail of GH¢100,000 with two sureties to be justified. The case has been adjourned to October 14, 2025.
The Prosecution’s Case
According to the prosecution, the complainant, a contractor from Cape Coast, was seeking to purchase a wheel loader in January 2025. He informed a witness, Isaac Ocran, a wheel loader driver, who in turn linked him to Fred.
Fred allegedly introduced the complainant to his partner, Yaw Sam, claiming that Sam’s nephew, a supposed staff at the Flagstaff House, had access to earth-moving machines for sale at a garage in Shiashie.
On January 31, 2025, Gyekye and Ocran traveled to Accra, where Sam led them to Sarkodie. At the garage, Sarkodie allegedly posed as a Presidential staffer and machine dealer. He even presented an ignition key to one of the loaders on display for inspection.
Later that day, Sarkodie accompanied the complainant to the GCB Bank High Street branch, where Gyekye withdrew GH¢400,000 and handed it to him for documentation purposes.
Prosecution said Sarkodie then took the complainant to the Flagstaff House reception, instructed him to wait while he retrieved the documents from his office, but instead abandoned him and went into hiding.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police. Sarkodie was arrested on September 15, 2025 at Weija in connection with similar fraud cases. During interrogation, he admitted to the offence and confirmed the involvement of Yaw Sam and Fred but failed to assist police in arresting them.
Police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend the two fugitives.
