Businessman in court over GH¢850k maize fraud; three accomplices on the run

An Accra Circuit Court has arraigned Francis Appeynarh, a businessman accused of leading a scheme that defrauded a woman of GH¢850,000 worth of maize. Three alleged accomplices — Boakye, Dr. Samir Kazi, and Baffour — remain at large.

According to prosecutors, the complainant, Gifty Ndoma, a grain dealer in Ejura, was approached in August 2025 by the group under the guise of urgently needing 3,000 bags of maize to feed poultry for their company, Earth Organisation Ghana.

Trusting their representations, Ndoma supplied the bags, valued at GH¢850,000. But soon after delivery, the accused allegedly ignored her calls and swiftly sold off the maize below market price without payment.

Police investigations later revealed that the maize had been stored in a commercial warehouse at Gulf City, near Ashaiman. Out of the 3,000 bags, 1,951 were sold off, while police managed to retrieve 1,049 bags along with GH¢95,000 in cash from Appeynarh.

Appeynarh, who has pleaded not guilty, was granted GH¢800,000 bail with two sureties, each earning not less than GH¢3,000. The case, presided over by Mrs. Susuna Eduful, has been adjourned to October 27, 2025, as police intensify efforts to arrest the other suspects and recover the remaining maize.