The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced that Percival Kofi Akpalu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and others will be charged with alleged forgery and related offences following investigations into alleged financial impropriety involving a COCOBOD feeder roads contract.

Addressing the press, Dr Ayine said the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) initially flagged suspicious transactions on an account belonging to Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company owned by Mr Akpalu, and subsequently filed a suspicious transaction report with First Bank Ghana Limited.

“Following the report, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) began an investigation into the matter,” he said.

According to the Attorney General, investigations revealed that the legitimate contractor awarded the feeder roads contract by COCOBOD was Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company wholly owned by a woman identified as Akua Pomaa.

The GH¢29 million contract was awarded in December 2022, and while the project commenced with initial payments properly made to the rightful company, subsequent transactions raised serious concerns of misrepresentation, forgery and unauthorised handling of cheques.

Dr Ayine disclosed that Mr Akpalu allegedly incorporated another company bearing the same name—Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited—but deliberately added an “H” to distinguish it slightly from the original entity.

“Between December 2022 and June 2024, he collected eight cheques issued by COCOBOD in the name of the original and authentic Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, totalling GH¢3.1 million, and deposited them into an account belonging to the company he had created,” he said.

He added that investigations further revealed that Akua Pomaa was unaware of the second company and the diversion of funds until COCOBOD contacted her in June 2024 over outstanding balances on the contract.

"The suspects who have been investigated are Percival Kofi Akpaloo, Pomaah Universal (Gh.) Ltd, and Delvine Akpaloo, the spouse of Percival Kofi Akpaloo. The evidence shows that they engaged in various criminal offences, including stealing, forgery and money laundering and will be charged by my office in January," the AG said.