Former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, face 20 criminal charges. These charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney General, include stealing, defrauding by false pretenses, wilfully causing financial loss to the State, abuse of public office for profit, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. The alleged financial improprieties exceed GHS 60 million from the state entity.
These new charges follow the re-arrest of Mr. Aludiba and his wife by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on May 15, 2026. This re-arrest occurred shortly after their discharge from a previous related case by the High Court. Prosecutors allege Mr. Aludiba fraudulently obtained GHS 734,400 from NAFCO in 2017 under false rent payment claims.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about financial accountability within Ghana's state-owned enterprises, particularly those critical to food security. NAFCO, established to support food security and stabilise agricultural commodity prices, has recently faced scrutiny over its procurement and financial management practices. Such large-scale alleged financial malfeasance could undermine public trust and impact the operational efficiency of vital state institutions.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Aludiba of diverting approximately GHS 50.8 million between February 2017 and February 2025. This was allegedly paid to Sawtina Enterprise, owned by James Tieku-Apawu, for supposed foodstuff purchases. The state asserts these transactions constitute stealing and abuse of public office. Furthermore, prosecutors allege Mr. Aludiba channeled over GHS 3.34 million to Alqarni Enterprise, a business owned by his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for purported food supply transactions between September 2018 and August 2019.
Faiza Seidu Wuni faces separate charges of defrauding by false pretence, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she falsely represented that her business had supplied food items to NAFCO, causing the company to release over GHS 3.34 million. The money laundering charge, filed under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), accuses her of possessing funds known to be obtained through unlawful means. These actions, if proven, demonstrate potential vulnerabilities in public procurement systems.
This development will likely intensify public and political attention on the integrity of public office holders and state enterprise governance. Defence lawyers have already raised concerns about the handling of the accused persons' re-arrest. Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, representing Mr. Aludiba, criticised EOCO's actions, citing denials of legal access and refusal of bail. The case is expected to return to court soon as prosecutors formally present the new charges. The outcome could set important precedents for combatting corruption and strengthening financial oversight in Ghana's public sector.