By Issah Olegor
The much-anticipated criminal trial of former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba suffered another delay on Monday after the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court was unable to hear the case due to the lengthy delivery of judgment in the separate case involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The court, which had scheduled the Buffer Stock case for continuation on July 20, 2026, spent several hours delivering judgment in the criminal trial involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party and Akonta Mining Company Limited, leaving insufficient time to proceed with the Hanan matter.
As a result, the court adjourned the case to a later date to allow the substantive trial to continue.
Background: Trial Finally Began
The adjournment comes after months of legal disputes that delayed the commencement of the substantive trial.
The Buffer Stock case has become one of Ghana’s most closely watched financial crime prosecutions since investigations first began into the operations of the National Food Buffer Stock Company during Hanan’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer.
Initially, the Attorney-General filed criminal charges against Hanan, his wife Faiza Seidu Wuni, and other accused persons in late 2025.
However, in May 2026, the Attorney-General unexpectedly withdrew the original charges after indicating that investigators had uncovered fresh evidence requiring further investigations.
The withdrawal was immediately followed by the re-arrest of Hanan and his wife by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), a move that generated widespread legal and political controversy.
Investigators subsequently filed a fresh charge sheet containing 20 counts, accusing the couple of stealing, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office for profit, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, dishonestly receiving and money laundering involving more than GH¢60 million.
Alleged Diversion of Public Funds
According to the prosecution, Hanan and his wife orchestrated a scheme that diverted public funds intended for the National Food Buffer Stock Company and government food supply programmes for personal benefit.
Among the allegations are claims that the former CEO fraudulently obtained GH¢734,400 in rent payments, diverted approximately GH¢50.8 million through transactions involving Sawtina Enterprise, and authorised more than GH¢3.34 million in payments to a company prosecutors allege belonged to his wife.
The State contends that the transactions caused significant financial loss to the Republic and constituted theft, fraud and money laundering.
The accused persons have consistently denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to every charge.
Months of Preliminary Applications
Before the commencement of the substantive trial, the case was dominated by numerous interlocutory applications.
These included disputes over the disclosure of prosecution documents, applications for the release of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices seized during investigations, and a successful application allowing Hanan to travel temporarily to the United Kingdom for specialist medical treatment.
That travel permission later triggered another legal battle after Hanan was arrested at Accra International Airport, with the Attorney-General alleging he attempted to unlawfully access funds in a frozen bank account.
His lawyers, led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, rejected the allegations, describing the arrest as unlawful and accusing the Attorney-General’s Department of violating a valid High Court order.
The defence has since threatened contempt proceedings and accused investigators of unlawfully retaining Hanan’s passport, mobile phones, cash and other personal belongings.
Public and Political Interest
The Buffer Stock prosecution has generated significant national interest because of both the amount allegedly involved and the political controversy surrounding the investigation.
The opposition NPP has accused the government of using state investigative agencies to harass political opponents, while civil society organisations have called for strict adherence to due process and transparency in the prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General’s Department insists that the prosecution is based on credible evidence uncovered during investigations and remains confident of proving its case before the court.
Trial to Continue
Although proceedings were interrupted by the lengthy judgment in the Chairman Wontumi case, the High Court is expected to resume hearing the Buffer Stock trial on its next scheduled date.
