Ex-Buffer Stock CEO used wrong court order to access frozen funds — A-G
Attorney General alleges attempt to withdraw frozen cash
The Attorney General has alleged that former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, presented a court order relating to his landed properties as though it also lifted a freeze on his bank accounts in an attempt to access funds that remained frozen. According to the Attorney General, the alleged action was intended to convince his bankers that restrictions on the accounts had been lifted, allowing him to withdraw money despite existing court orders. The allegation is contained in an affidavit filed in support of an application seeking to revoke the Accra High Court’s earlier decision granting Mr Abdul-Wahab leave to travel outside the country. The affidavit was sworn by Assistant Staff Officer of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Radiatu Abdulai.
Bank accounts remained frozen
According to the affidavit, the High Court issued two separate freezing orders on July 14, 2025, and July 28, 2025, directing that all bank accounts belonging to Mr Abdul-Wahab and his alleged accomplices be frozen pending investigations and trial. The Attorney General argues that those orders remain in force. However, after obtaining the court’s permission to travel outside Ghana, Mr Abdul-Wahab allegedly attempted to withdraw all the funds in the affected bank accounts.
Alleged misuse of court ruling
The Attorney General claims Mr Abdul-Wahab presented a court ruling to his bankers which “purported to defreeze the account” in an effort to demonstrate that the accounts had been released.
The affidavit, however, contends that the ruling in question did not relate to the frozen bank accounts but rather to an entirely different category of assets.
“The said ruling was in respect of the court freezing confirmation order of a completely different set of assets, namely, landed properties and not the said bank accounts,” the affidavit states.
Bank officials raised alarm
According to the Attorney General, officials of the bank became suspicious after reviewing the court order and immediately alerted the Office of the Attorney General as well as investigators from EOCO. The affidavit argues that the incident creates a reasonable suspicion that Mr Abdul-Wahab either breached an existing court freezing order or was attempting to commit an offence by accessing funds that remained under a court-ordered freeze.
Basis for travel revocation
The Attorney General further contends that the alleged conduct raises concerns about whether Mr Abdul-Wahab will comply with the conditions attached to his travel permission, including his obligation to return to Ghana to stand trial. The latest allegations form the basis of the application seeking to revoke the leave earlier granted by the court for him to travel outside the jurisdiction.
Trial over GH¢70 million case
Mr Abdul-Wahab is currently standing trial over allegations of stealing and causing financial loss to the state involving more than GH¢70 million.
The Attorney General’s application to revoke his travel permission is scheduled to be heard by the Accra High Court on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
