By Issah Olegor
A major financial scandal has rocked the family business of the late Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Ejisu, John Ampontua Kumah, as a trusted associate and church member allegedly siphoned more than GH¢14.5 million from the company’s accounts.
The accused, Seth Otupri Ntim, a 53-year-old businessman and U.S. returnee, is currently standing trial before the Dansoman Circuit Court on two counts of stealing.
The charges stem from his alleged illegal access to, and unauthorized withdrawals from, accounts belonging to Sontim Group Limited, a construction firm founded in 2016 by the Kumah family and reportedly funded almost entirely by the late MP.
Betrayal
Court documents reveal that Ntim, who became affiliated with the Kumah family through Pastor Lilian Kumah—the late MP’s wife and founder of Disciples of Christ Ministry in Weija-Accra—was brought on board as a shareholder and board member of Sontim Group.
However, he had no access to the company’s two main operational accounts held at the National Investment Bank (NIB) and GTBank.
Following the sudden passing of John Kumah in March 2024, the company’s board met to restructure internal financial controls.
It was resolved that all interest from a Government of Ghana bond should be paid into Lilian Kumah’s NIB account, while her brother, Theophilus Owusu Gyimah, was added as co-signatory to the company’s NIB account alongside Joyce Kumah, another sibling.
But according to the prosecution, Ntim took advantage of the transitional period after Kumah’s death to illegally change the signatories on both company accounts—without the knowledge or consent of either Joyce or Lilian.
SMS Alerts
The alleged scheme began to unravel when Lilian Kumah, using her late husband’s mobile phone, started receiving SMS alerts of unauthorized cash withdrawals from the GTBank account.
Shocked, she contacted the bank and discovered that Ntim had altered the account mandates and made himself a signatory.
Investigators say in December 2024, Ntim withdrew GH¢1 million from the GTBank account that was previously under Lilian’s control.
The situation worsened in February 2025, when Ntim allegedly liquidated a Government of Ghana bond held in Sontim’s NIB account—amounting to a staggering GH¢13.5 million.
In total, he is accused of embezzling GH¢14.5 million, funds intended for the family’s construction business and other posthumous arrangements tied to the late MP’s estate.
Legal Proceedings
Ntim appeared before Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit on July 2, 2025, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Upon a request by his counsel, the court granted him bail to the tune of GH¢15 million, with stringent conditions: two sureties must be public servants earning not less than GH¢10,000 monthly, while the third must provide title deeds matching the bond.
Due to the financial magnitude of the case, the presiding judge ordered the police prosecutor, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, to refer the matter to the Attorney-General’s Department for legal advice and further directives.
Described by some as a once-trusted associate, Ntim was reportedly well known in the Kumah family circle and the church community.
He was introduced to the company with the expectation of playing a strategic business role. Instead, prosecutors allege he created a parallel forex bureau under the company’s name and funneled company funds into personal ventures after the MP’s passing.
When initially confronted, Ntim reportedly went into hiding, prompting the family to lodge a complaint with the Accra Regional CID.
After weeks of manhunt, he was eventually arrested.
In a cautioned statement given in the presence of his lawyer and an independent witness, Ntim allegedly admitted to using the stolen funds for his personal businesses.
Next Steps
The court has adjourned proceedings pending legal advice from the Attorney-General, while police investigations are ongoing to determine whether additional individuals or assets are linked to the case.
Investigators are also probing the source and current location of the GH¢14.5 million, most of which remains unaccounted for.
