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Woman, 38, Faces Arrest Over GH₵100,000 Cocoa Road Contract Fraud
A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mercy Lilina Danquah, a 38-year-old woman accused of defrauding a businessman of GH₵100,000 under the guise of securing a contract within the Ghana Cocoa Roads project. The warrant was issued by the Accra Circuit Court after Danquah failed to appear in court for the scheduled proceedings.
Danquah, who has been charged with defrauding by false pretenses, allegedly collected the substantial sum from the businessman, identified as Bright Asante-Appiah, but failed to fulfill her promised services. Inspector Wisdom Alorwu led the prosecution in presenting the case, and upon Danquah’s absence, he applied for a bench warrant for her arrest. The court, presided over by Mrs. Ellen Ofei Ayeh, granted the prosecution’s request.
The prosecution provided details of the case, stating that the complainant, Asante-Appiah, a businessman residing in East Legon, approached Renaissance African Group in May 2021 to seek financial assistance for his project. During the discussions, it became apparent that Asante-Appiah fell below the minimum funding requirements. Subsequently, Renaissance African Group introduced him to Mercy Lilina Danquah at Octagon Towers, who claimed to oversee the Ghana Mining Sector Road Rehabilitation Secretariat. Danquah assured Asante-Appiah that she could secure a lucrative Cocoa Road Contract worth $10 million for him.
According to the prosecution, in September 2021, Danquah demanded and collected GH₵100,000 from Asante-Appiah as a contract fee. However, after receiving the payment, she reneged on her promise and provided various excuses to the complainant. Frustrated, Asante-Appiah lodged a complaint at the Adabraka Police Station on July 31, 2021, leading to Danquah’s subsequent arrest.
During the investigation, Danquah admitted to receiving the complainant’s money. She claimed that the funds were intended to establish the Ghana Mining Sector Road Rehabilitation Secretariat, a purported office aimed at securing the contract for Asante-Appiah. However, further investigation revealed that no such Secretariat existed under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, as alleged by Danquah. Additionally, the Secretariat had not been registered with the Registrar Generals’ Department. As a result, the office at Octagon Towers, used as the Secretariat, has since been locked following the commencement of the case.
The prosecution stated that Danquah had expressed a desire to repay the amount she had collected. On January 24, 2023, she refunded GH₵10,000, which has been retained as an exhibit. The case has been adjourned to October 11, 2023, for further proceedings.
With the court order for her arrest, Mercy Lilina Danquah now faces the prospect of being apprehended and brought to justice for her alleged involvement in the GH₵100,000 cocoa road contract fraud.
