BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Accra High Court has delivered a major ruling in the protracted legal battle between the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, and Singaporean businessman, Toh You Kang.
Presided over by Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, the court on Thursday, September 4, 2025, ordered Ashie-Moore to return all properties belonging to Toh which were allegedly seized unlawfully.
The ruling comes after the High Court overturned an earlier decision of the Dansoman Circuit Court, which on May 30, 2025, had remanded the Singaporean into police custody following a complaint by Ashie-Moore that Toh had stolen US$5 million from him.
Court’s Ruling
In its judgement, the High Court invoked its supervisory jurisdiction, quashing the circuit court’s ruling and barring the presiding trial judge from further hearing the matter.
The order directed that “the complainant [Ashie-Moore] releases to the applicant [Toh You Kang] all properties belonging to the applicant which have unlawfully come into his possession.”
The court found that the initial detention and subsequent remand of the businessman were irregular and tainted with abuse of process.
Background
The dispute between the NDC regional chairman and the Singaporean investor has been brewing for months and is rooted in what Toh describes as a business deal gone wrong.
Earlier this year, Toh filed a ₵20 million lawsuit at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra, accusing Ashie-Moore of fraud, human rights violations, unlawful detention, and the seizure of his property.
At the heart of the case is a business arrangement that Toh claims turned into a fraudulent scheme, leaving him millions of dollars out of pocket.
Alleged Fraudulent Dealings
According to court filings supported by a 66-paragraph affidavit, Toh was introduced to Ashie-Moore by a Chinese associate, Liang Liu Bing.
He was led to believe that Ashie-Moore had political and business connections that could help him secure lucrative contracts with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
On that basis, Toh says he paid an upfront $800,000 commitment fee, part of which was collected in Singapore by an Ashie-Moore associate identified as “Henry.” A company, NSG Innovation Ltd, was subsequently registered to pursue the contract.
However, Toh alleges that Ashie-Moore became unresponsive soon after receiving the money.
Months later, the NDC chairman resurfaced with new investment proposals in the oil and gas sector but provided no clarity on the status of the ECG deal.
Political Undertones
In a further twist, Toh claims that Ashie-Moore later requested an additional $1.5 million, citing the need to support the NDC’s election campaign.
He allegedly invoked the name of former President John Dramani Mahama in WhatsApp exchanges presented in court, alongside promises of arranging calls with influential politicians to boost investor confidence.
Screenshots of these alleged communications were tendered as evidence.
Arrest And Detention
Matters escalated when Toh traveled to Ghana between May 28 and 30, 2025, for what he thought was a business meeting.
Instead, he claims he was detained by armed men linked to Ashie-Moore, stripped of his phones and money, and pressured through his associate Liang to pay an additional $3 million.
He was subsequently arrested and remanded by the Dansoman Circuit Court, which denied him bail.
While in custody, Ashie-Moore allegedly sent photos of the detained businessman to his family abroad, demanding ransom for his release.
The intervention of the Singaporean Mission in Accra was critical in securing legal representation and pushing the matter to the High Court.
What Lies Ahead
Thursday’s ruling represents a significant victory for Toh You Kang, who has consistently maintained his innocence and accused Ashie-Moore of orchestrating a politically-backed scheme to defraud and intimidate him.
The case, however, is far from over. Toh’s ₵20 million lawsuit against Ashie-Moore, which includes claims of fraud, unlawful detention, and abuse of human rights, is still pending before the Human Rights Division of the High Court.
Meanwhile, political observers say the scandal could cast a shadow on the NDC in the Greater Accra Region, with questions being raised about the involvement of party figures in dubious private financial dealings.
