AG to Charge LPG’s Kofi Akpalu, Others over Alleged GH¢3.1m COCOBOD Contract Forgery

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced that Percival Kofi Akpalu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and other suspects will be formally charged for forgery, stealing, and money laundering in connection with alleged financial impropriety involving a COCOBOD feeder roads contract.

Addressing the press, Dr. Ayine said the case emerged after the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) flagged suspicious transactions on an account belonging to Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company linked to Mr. Akpalu, and subsequently filed a Suspicious Transaction Report with First Bank Ghana Limited.

“Following the report, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) began an investigation into the matter,” the Attorney-General said.

According to Dr. Ayine, investigations established that the legitimate contractor awarded the feeder roads contract by COCOBOD was Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, a company wholly owned by a woman identified as Akua Pomaa.

The GH¢29 million contract, awarded in December 2022, initially progressed smoothly, with payments properly made to the rightful company. However, subsequent transactions raised red flags, triggering concerns of misrepresentation, forgery, and unauthorised handling of cheques.

Dr. Ayine revealed that Mr. Akpalu allegedly incorporated a second company with a nearly identical name, adding an “H” — Pomaah Universal Ghana Limited — to distinguish it slightly from the original entity.

“Between December 2022 and June 2024, he collected eight cheques issued by COCOBOD in the name of the original and authentic Pomaa Universal Ghana Limited, totalling GH¢3.1 million, and deposited them into an account belonging to the company he had created,” Dr. Ayine disclosed.

He added that Akua Pomaa was unaware of the existence of the second company or the diversion of funds until June 2024, when COCOBOD contacted her over outstanding balances on the contract.

Dr. Ayine further named the suspects identified by investigators.

“The suspects who have been investigated are Percival Kofi Akpalu, Pomaah Universal (Gh.) Ltd, and Delvine Akpalu, the spouse of Percival Kofi Akpalu,” he stated.

According to the Attorney-General, evidence gathered by EOCO indicates that the suspects engaged in multiple criminal offences, including stealing, forgery, and money laundering.

He confirmed that his office will formally file charges in January, underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcing accountability and protecting public funds