Ghana’s former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, face 20 new criminal charges. The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice filed these charges on May 15, 2026, alleging financial improprieties exceeding GHS 60 million.
The accusations against the couple include stealing, defrauding by false pretenses, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering. These new charges follow their re-arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after a High Court discharged them in an earlier case. The alleged fraudulent activities occurred between 2017 and 2025 during Mr. Aludiba's tenure as NAFCO CEO.
This case adds to a pattern of scrutiny regarding financial management within Ghana’s state-owned enterprises. NAFCO, a crucial institution for national food security, has faced previous questions about its procurement practices and financial oversight. Such allegations of corruption within public bodies can undermine public trust and deter foreign investment, impacting Ghana's broader economic stability.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Aludiba of fraudulently obtaining GHS 734,400 from NAFCO in 2017 through false rent payment claims. They further allege he diverted approximately GHS 50.8 million from NAFCO between February 2017 and February 2025. This diversion allegedly happened under the guise of payments to Sawtina Enterprise for foodstuff purchases. Court documents claim these transactions constituted stealing and abuse of public office.
Additionally, prosecutors accuse the former CEO of channeling over GHS 3.34 million to Alqarni Enterprise, a business allegedly owned by his wife. These payments, made between September 2018 and August 2019, were for purported food supply transactions. Faiza Seidu Wuni faces charges for defrauding by false pretenses, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering related to these transactions. She allegedly received funds knowing they were acquired through unlawful means.
The Attorney General’s office appears intent on pursuing this fresh prosecution. This broadens the scope of allegations beyond the initial court proceedings against the couple. The case has also generated public and political attention, with defense lawyers criticizing EOCO’s handling of the re-arrest.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for the former NAFCO CEO, accused EOCO of denying his clients access to lawyers. He also alleged they refused bail despite existing court processes and earlier bail conditions. Mr. Dame described the prosecution's conduct as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion and alleged “pre-trial torture and harassment.”
This ongoing legal battle will likely put further pressure on regulatory bodies to enhance financial oversight of state-owned entities. The outcome of this case could influence future policies on corporate governance and anti-corruption measures within Ghana's public sector. Investors and the public will closely watch how these allegations affect NAFCO's operations and reputation.