Constance Gyasi Nimako, a trader accused of stealing and laundering GH¢800,000 mistakenly credited to her bank account, has refunded GH¢230,000.
Popularly known as Maa Adwoa, Constance was absent in court but remains in custody. Her mother, Cecilia Gyasi, appeared before the relieving judge, Evelyn Asamoah.
Her lawyer informed the court about the partial refund, but the judge declined a bail request, citing plans for an expeditious trial. The prosecution was directed to file disclosures, and the case was adjourned to July 23, 2025.
Constance allegedly spent GH¢770,500 of the funds mistakenly transferred into her Ecobank account on February 6, 2025. She reportedly moved GH¢300,000 to her mother’s Fidelity Bank account, GH¢400,000 to her GCB Bank account, and withdrew GH¢70,500 in cash.
She faces charges of stealing and money laundering, while her mother has been charged with abetment of crime to wit money laundering. Both have pleaded not guilty.
At the previous sitting, Presiding Judge Susan Eduful denied Constance bail due to the gravity of the charges and concerns about her court attendance.
Cecilia Gyasi was, however, granted bail of GH¢500,000 with two sureties, who must be immediate family members earning at least GH¢2,000 per month.
The prosecution revealed that the complainant, a company CEO, had instructed Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) to transfer GH¢800,000 to his personal Ecobank account. Due to a clerical error, the funds were mistakenly sent to Constance’s account.
Efforts by both CBG and Ecobank to retrieve the money failed, as only GH¢29,778.47 remained in the account. The matter was subsequently reported to the police, with assistance from CBG’s Head of Security and Investigations.
Constance reportedly insulted officers and went into hiding before being arrested in Kumasi. Her mother was later arrested in Accra.
Investigations indicated that Constance had informed her mother of the windfall and instructed her to withdraw GH¢300,000, which she complied with. During interrogation, Constance claimed the money came from a foreign company with which she had no prior dealings, and said she used it to order goods.
According to prosecutors, investigations are ongoing to trace and recover the remaining funds.
Source: GNA
