A woman who is accused of bolting with “susu” money totalling GH¢156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. 

Martha Nana Esi Afful is alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants. 

Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who had been remanded earlier, pleaded not guilty. 

The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, has admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 with two sureties. 

One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning at least GH¢5,000. 

She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026. 

The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra. 

The prosecution described Martha as a self-styled “Susu” collector who resided at Burma Camp. 

The court heard that the accused person ran a business named “ZOE” and deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected “susu” daily, which was kept for one to three years, and paid interest on the money invested. 

The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, the prosecution said. 

In December 2025, when the complainants went to collect their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few of them. 

The prosecution said the accused provided an MTN MoMo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies. 

It said all efforts to collect the money, totalling GH¢156,445, from her proved futile. 

On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police, and Martha was picked up by them at a washing bay in Tse Addo. 

During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, stating that she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region; hence, the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 to date. 

The prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies in a refuse-collection business and needed time to pay the amount. 

Police are investigating the claims.