An Executive Assistant at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Anthonette Ama Boakye, who allegedly diverted a GH¢221,000 intended for a ticket-procurement investment in a sports betting account, has been hauled before a Circuit Court in Accra.
The accused has been charged with the offence of defrauding by false pretences after she failed to invest the money given to her by a US-based Ghanaian through a police officer.
Anthonette Ama Boakye pleaded not guilty to the charge and has been admitted to a bail of GH¢200,000 with three sureties — two of whom must be close relatives, while the other must justify the bail with landed properties. The case has been adjourned to January 6, 2026.
Court documents indicate that Ms. Boakye was previously arrested in 2023 in connection with a separate allegation of defrauding by false pretences and was detained at the Legon Police Station.
While there, she allegedly met a police officer; Vincent Ariston Attipoe, who is a close friend of the complainant in the latest case, Alfred Adu, a US-based businessman.
The documents said the accused allegedly introduced the police officer to what she claimed to be a high-return flight-ticket procurement venture linked to the USAID where she previously worked.
Officer Attipoe then relayed the proposal to Adu, who later spoke with Boakye in a three-way call after which he agreed to invest in the venture.
Court documents further allege that between April and July 2024, Adu reportedly transferred GH¢74,837 to Officer Attipoe to be forwarded to Boakye, and another GH¢146,913 directly to her mobile money and bank accounts—totalling GH¢221,750.
However, Adu received no returns on his investment and subsequently demanded a refund. The accused reportedly only refunded GH¢20,000 to the complainant.
The documents add that a review of Boakye’s mobile money statements revealed that much of the money had been transferred into a Betway account, where it was allegedly used for sports betting.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak