Man sentenced to 35 years in prison for $50k fraud

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for fraud after being convicted on multiple counts of defrauding by false pretences.

The judgment has been described as one of the stiffest punishments handed down for such an offence in recent years.

The convict, identified as Abdul Munaf Lawal, was found guilty of fraud after collecting $50,000 from a client under the pretext of converting it into Ghana cedis. Instead of fulfilling his promise, Lawal went into hiding until his arrest. The court concluded that the seriousness of the fraud warranted the 35-year prison sentence with hard labour.

According to the prosecution, the incident took place on July 27, 2023, when the complainant entrusted the money to Lawal for currency conversion. After receiving the money, however, he failed to return with the cedi equivalent and cut off all contact. Following extensive investigations, he was eventually arrested in Accra on June 27, 2025, in connection with a similar offence. He was subsequently transferred to the Ashanti Regional Police Command to face the pending charges.

Lawal appeared before the Asokwa Circuit Court 1, presided over by His Honour Fred Obikyere. He initially pleaded not guilty when the case was first heard, leading to several adjournments. However, on September 3, 2025, he changed his plea to guilty after overwhelming evidence was presented against him.

On September 10, 2025, the judge convicted him and imposed the 35-year sentence, emphasising that fraud of such magnitude must be dealt with decisively to protect the public and deter others. The prosecution also revealed that Lawal had a criminal record, having served a 24-month sentence for stealing in the past.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service in Accra has intercepted a private ambulance allegedly transporting narcotics at Labadi, in what they describe as a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking.

According to the Accra Regional Police Command, the operation that led to the interception of the private ambulance at Labadi was based on sustained surveillance. Police say the vehicle, which had been disguised as an ambulance, was being used to convey narcotics into the capital.

The police at Labadi confirmed that the Hyundai Hiace ambulance was carrying sacks of dried leaves suspected to be narcotics. A 39-year-old man, Kwame Mananyi Tuanda, was arrested on the spot after claiming ownership of both the private ambulance and the suspected drugs.

Investigations later revealed that the consignment had been moved from Kpando in the Volta North Region to Accra for onward distribution. Officers discovered 700 parcels and 473 wrappers of dried leaves believed to be cannabis concealed in the ambulance.