The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, is preparing criminal charges against Percival Kofi Apaloo and his wife over allegations of fraud, forgery and money laundering linked to contract payments from the Ghana Cocoa Board.
The case, which is still at the pre-trial stage, arises from investigations into the alleged diversion of more than GHC3.1 million in COCOBOD funds that were meant to settle payments to a legitimate contractor.
According to officials familiar with the investigation, the money was instead paid into an entity with a deceptively similar name, using documentation prosecutors say bore forged signatures and false representations.
The Attorney-General’s office believes both Mr Apaloo and his wife played active roles in the scheme.
Announcing the case as part of a wider briefing on ongoing financial crime prosecutions, Dr Ayine said the evidence gathered so far supports the filing of criminal charges, with offences under consideration including stealing, forgery and money laundering. He stressed that the state intends not only to prosecute but also to pursue recovery of the funds through parallel civil processes where necessary.
Kofi Apaloo is a well-known lawyer and political figure, whose public profile has grown over the past decade through his involvement in national politics and frequent media commentary.
He is the founder and leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana, a minor opposition party that has contested recent general elections, and he has previously positioned himself as a vocal critic of Ghana’s two dominant political parties. Mr Apaloo is also a regular contributor to radio and television discussions, where he comments on governance, constitutional issues and public accountability.
That public visibility, the Attorney-General cautioned, does not place Mr Apaloo beyond the reach of the law. Dr Ayine said the case will be prosecuted strictly on the basis of evidence, and that neither political affiliation nor public prominence would influence prosecutorial decisions. He added that repayment of misapplied funds, where it occurs, will not by itself bar criminal proceedings if the elements of an offence are made out.
Officials say the alleged COCOBOD payment diversion forms part of a broader pattern of financial crime cases currently under review, as the government intensifies efforts to address misuse of public funds and weaknesses in state payment systems.
The Attorney-General’s office has not yet filed a formal charge sheet in court, but sources indicate that this is expected once internal reviews and final authorisations are completed.
Neither Mr Apaloo nor his wife has publicly responded in detail to the allegations. Their legal representatives are yet to issue a formal statement, but the Attorney-General said the suspects will have full opportunity to answer the charges once the matter is placed before the courts.
Prosecutors say the case, when filed, will test the state’s resolve to enforce accountability in public financial management and could have wider implications for how similar payment diversion schemes are investigated and prosecuted in Ghana.
