An Accra Circuit Court has arraigned a banker, Kwabena Opoku-Acheampong, for allegedly making unauthorised transactions in the bank accounts of the Coptic Orthodox Church, resulting in the diversion of GHC177,000 and $134,800.
Opoku-Acheampong, a relationship officer of a bank whose name has been withheld, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to steal, stealing, forgery of documents, and altering forged documents. His alleged accomplice, Prince Okyere Amoako, was absent in court, prompting the prosecution to pray for a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court, presided over by a Circuit Judge, granted Opoku-Acheampong bail in the sum of GHC900,000 with two sureties, one to be justified and the other a government employee earning not less than GHC2,000 monthly. He was also ordered to report to the case investigator every Thursday. The prosecution did not oppose the bail application but requested conditions that would ensure the accused’s attendance at subsequent sittings. The case was adjourned to November 2, 2025, for the Case Management Conference, with the prosecution directed to file witness statements ahead of the hearing.
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According to the facts presented, the complainant in the case is an auditor at the bank. Opoku-Acheampong’s duties included sourcing new clients, opening accounts, and managing them on behalf of the institution. Amoako, a businessman, operated both cedi and dollar accounts with the same bank.
In November 2024, the Coptic Orthodox Church reported unauthorised transactions in its accounts, prompting an internal investigation. Findings revealed that between August and October 2024, Opoku-Acheampong had conducted a series of unauthorised transfers amounting to GHC177,000 and $134,800. Further enquiries showed that he falsified account and transfer forms to facilitate the movement of funds from the church‘s accounts into Amoako’s business accounts.
Investigators discovered that Amoako subsequently withdrew the funds, which the two allegedly used for personal purposes. The matter was reported to the police after the fraudulent transfers came to light. Investigations confirmed that Opoku-Acheampong had authorised access to the church’s accounts and diverted the funds without the approval of either the church or the bank. He has since refunded GHC177,000 and $48,000 of the misappropriated amounts.
