Accra: Bawa Yusif Sarkodie, a self-acclaimed businessman, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a contractor of GHC400,000. Sarkodie, along with his accomplices known as Yaw Sam and Fred, is accused of taking money from the complainant under the pretext of supplying a Wheel Loader machine but failing to deliver.
According to Ghana News Agency, Sarkodie has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely defrauding by false pretenses, and defrauding by false pretenses. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court, presided over by Mrs. Dora Eshun, has granted Sarkodie bail in the sum of GHC100,000 with two sureties needing justification. The case has been adjourned to October 14, 2025.
The prosecution's case states that James Gyekye, the complainant, resides in Cape Coast. Sarkodie, the first accused, claims to be a businessman in West Legon, while Yaw Sam and Fred remain at large. In January 2025, the complainant, seeking to purchase a wheel loader for his work, contacted Isaac Ocran, a wheel loader driver and witness in the case.
The complainant and Ocran reached out to Fred, who is currently at large, and he informed them that his partner Yaw Sam had a nephew working at the Flagstaff House who sold wheel loaders and other earth-moving machines at a Shiashie garage. On January 31, 2025, the complainant and Ocran traveled from Cape Coast to Accra to meet Yaw Sam, who introduced them to Sarkodie at the Wheel Loader Garage around Shiashie. Sarkodie posed as a Presidential staffer and dealer in earth-moving machines, including wheel loaders.
Sarkodie later presented an ignition key for one of the loaders parked at the entrance for inspection by the complainant and Ocran. Subsequently, Sarkodie led the complainant to the GCB Branch on Accra High Street, where the complainant withdrew GHC400,000 and handed it over to Sarkodie to facilitate documentation.
Upon receiving the cash, Sarkodie took the complainant to the Flagstaff House main reception, instructed them to wait while he fetched the documents, but abandoned them and went into hiding. The complainant reported the matter to the police, and Sarkodie was arrested on September 15, 2025, at Weija, amid similar cases under investigation.
During the investigation, Sarkodie admitted to the offense, corroborating the complainant's claims and identifying Yaw Sam and Fred as his accomplices. However, he failed to assist the police in apprehending them. Authorities are making efforts to arrest Yaw Sam and Fred.
