BY Issah Olegor
Former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, was arrested by national security operatives following a series of ongoing investigations into alleged financial malfeasance during his time in office.
The arrest took place at his residence in Kumasi on Sunday, June 29 in connection with alleged stolen car.
According to sources, a team of security officers arrived at Jumah’s home with the intention of speaking with him.
However, the visit swiftly escalated into an arrest.
The Ashanti Regional Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Yandoh, who confirmed the development, disclosed that the operatives displayed what they claimed was a warrant on a mobile phone before taking Jumah into custody.
“They denied him the chance to change his clothes and whisked him away in a pickup truck to the Ashanti Regional Police Command,” Yandoh said. “He remains in custody awaiting directives from Accra.”
Yandoh strongly condemned the arrest, calling it “political persecution” and suggesting it was part of a broader attempt by the current administration to suppress dissent.
“This is not the democracy we are building. It appears the President is using state institutions to suppress the opposition,” he added.
Three lawyers are said to have arrived to represent Jumah, but as of the time of filing this report, no formal charges had been communicated, and no official statement had been issued by either the police or national security on the motive behind the arrest.
Background of Investigations
This latest development comes weeks after a prior security operation on May 15, when operatives raided Jumah’s home in a failed attempt to retrieve government-owned vehicles allegedly retained unlawfully by the former GIHOC boss. Jumah was not present during that earlier operation.
The former Kumasi Mayor and NPP stalwart has been under investigation for a range of alleged offenses tied to his leadership at GIHOC Distilleries.
The probe includes concerns over asset misappropriation, bloated staff numbers, and unauthorized transactions.
A particularly controversial transaction involves the sale of a high-end Genesis G90 sedan to Jumah at just GHS 4,943.11—roughly 5% of its estimated GHS 99,000 market value.
Though a 2019 letter from the GIHOC board approved the purchase, investigators argue the vehicle was in excellent condition and had no history of significant mechanical issues.
Additionally, Jumah has been accused of holding onto two other vehicles, including an Audi worth over $60,000. One of the vehicles was reportedly being used by his son.
One of the cars has since been returned to Accra.
The former GIHOC chief also faces allegations of illegally authorizing the sale of company property in Tema valued at over $700,000.
Internal auditors and investigators have flagged the deal for lacking transparency and breaching procedural requirements.
Political Fallout
The incident is already causing ripples within the NPP in the Ashanti Region—a stronghold of the party.
The Regional Secretary of the party has been briefed and is said to be engaging legal channels on Jumah’s behalf.
With tensions already high amid ongoing political jostling ahead of the 2028 general elections, the arrest of a prominent opposition figure under a cloud of alleged irregularities is expected to further inflame accusations of politically motivated crackdowns.
As of press time, neither the Ghana Police Service nor the Ministry of National Security has issued a public explanation for the arrest.
Jumah’s arrest adds to the mounting scrutiny over how former appointees have handled public assets and raises new questions about the lines between justice and political retaliation in Ghana’s democratic space.
