Two men granted GHC 250,000 bail for alleged illegal gold trade
Benjamin Forkuo, a 37-year-old gold buying clerk, and Felix Aboagye, a cleaner, were brought before the court on charges of conspiracy and illegal gold trading.
An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to two men accused of dealing in gold without the necessary authorization.
Benjamin Forkuo, a 37-year-old gold buying clerk, and Felix Aboagye, a cleaner, were brought before the court on charges of conspiracy and illegal gold trading. Presiding Judge Susan Eduful granted each of them bail to the tune of GH¢250,000 with four sureties. Two of the sureties must earn a minimum of GH¢5,000 monthly, while the remaining two must be family members.
The court has adjourned the matter to July 30, 2025, instructing the prosecution to be ready to take the accused persons’ pleas at the next sitting.
Defense counsel argued for bail, stating the accused were not flight risks and had shown good faith by cooperating with authorities. He highlighted that GH¢444,396 was retrieved at the time of their arrest, which the accused did not attempt to conceal.
According to Chief Inspector Jacob Kubal, the arrest took place on June 13, 2025, in Santaasi, a suburb of Kumasi. A joint task force made up of National Security, Police, and Military personnel conducted the operation based on intelligence that Gilded Gold Ventures—where the two worked—was operating without a valid license.
Both men claimed to be mere employees, working as a clerk and a cleaner. Among the items seized were large sums of cash, laptops, printers, weighing scales, and other business equipment.
Investigations are still ongoing.
