A trader, Constance Gyasi Nimako, also known as Maa Adwoa, has been remanded into custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing and laundering GH¢770,500 that was mistakenly deposited into her bank account.
According to prosecutors, GH¢800,000 was erroneously transferred to Nimako’s Ecobank account on February 6, 2025.
The money was intended for the personal account of a complainant who is the CEO of a company that banks with Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG).
The transfer had been requested from the company’s account at CBG’s Manet branch for a business transaction, but the CEO mistakenly provided Nimako’s account number instead of his own.
Following the accidental transfer, Nimako allegedly moved GH¢300,000 to her mother Cecilia Gyasi’s Fidelity Bank account, GH¢400,000 to her GCB Bank account, and withdrew GH¢70,500 in cash—leaving just GH¢29,778.47 in the original account.
When the complainant noticed the delay in receiving the funds, he followed up with CBG. The bank discovered the error and contacted Ecobank, but by then most of the funds had already been moved. Both banks tried to retrieve the money, but Nimako reportedly refused to return it.
CBG’s Head of Security and Investigations helped the complainant report the matter to the police. When contacted, Nimako allegedly insulted officers and went into hiding. She was eventually arrested in Kumasi, and her mother was picked up in Accra.
Investigators say Nimako told her mother about the mistaken deposit and instructed her to withdraw the GH¢300,000, which she did.
During interrogation, Nimako claimed the funds had been sent by a foreign company she had no prior business with and said she had used the money to order goods, which she was expecting to receive.
Nimako has been charged with stealing and money laundering, while her mother faces a charge of abetment of money laundering. Both pleaded not guilty.
Presiding judge Mrs. Susan Eduful remanded Nimako, citing the seriousness of the charges and the risk of her absconding.
Cecilia Gyasi was granted bail of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, both of whom must be close relatives earning at least GH¢2,000 monthly.
The case has been adjourned to July 7, 2025. Investigations are ongoing to trace and recover the remaining funds.