Ex-Buffer stock Boss, wife face fresh 20 charges in expanded GH¢60m scandal

Former National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, have been dragged back before the High Court in Accra after the Attorney-General’s Department filed a fresh and expanded charge sheet accusing the couple of alleged theft, fraud, abuse of office, and money laundering involving more than GH¢60 million.

The new case, filed on May 15, 2026, marks the latest dramatic chapter in the controversial Buffer Stock case that has generated intense political, legal, and public debate over the past year.

The latest charge sheet contains 20 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abuse of public office for profit, dishonestly receiving, and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).

Fresh Charges After Earlier Withdrawal

The new case comes barely days after the Attorney-General withdrew an earlier prosecution against Hanan, his wife, and three other accused persons, citing the discovery of “fresh evidence.”

That withdrawal triggered widespread controversy, especially after operatives of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) immediately re-arrested the former NAFCO boss and his wife following their discharge by the court.

At the time, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai defended the move, insisting that criminal procedure allows prosecutors to discontinue charges whenever new evidence emerges requiring further investigations and interrogation.

EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer later confirmed publicly that investigators had uncovered additional evidence and had already submitted a fresh report to the Attorney-General for prosecution.

The Buffer Stock Investigations

The Buffer Stock scandal traces back to investigations into the operations of NAFCO during Hanan’s tenure as CEO between 2017 and 2023.

NAFCO, a state-owned agency established to promote food security and stabilize agricultural commodity prices, became the focus of investigations after allegations emerged that millions of cedis meant for food procurement and supply programmes had been diverted through questionable transactions.

The State initially accused Hanan and others of orchestrating fraudulent payment schemes linked to food supply contracts under government programmes, including interventions associated with the Free Senior High School initiative.

The case quickly evolved into one of Ghana’s highest-profile financial crime investigations because of the sums involved and the political stature of some of the individuals connected to the matter.

The Rent Payment Allegation

One of the new charges accuses Hanan of fraudulently obtaining GH¢734,400, the cedi equivalent of US$127,500, from NAFCO in 2017 under the guise of rent payments.

According to prosecutors, the former CEO falsely represented that the payments covered office rent for the period between May 2017 and May 2019.

The Attorney-General contends that the claim was fraudulent and constituted defrauding by false pretences contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act.

The State further alleges that the transaction caused financial loss to the Republic.

GH¢50.8 Million Sawtina Enterprise Transactions

The largest portion of the allegations relates to transactions involving a private entity identified as Sawtina Enterprise.

Court documents allege that between February 2017 and February 2025, Hanan diverted approximately GH¢50.8 million from NAFCO through payments purportedly made to one James Tieku-Apawu, trading as Sawtina Enterprise, for foodstuff purchases.

Prosecutors claim the transactions amounted to stealing and constituted abuse of public office for personal benefit.

The State also argues that the alleged payments caused substantial financial loss to NAFCO.

Payments To Wife’s Company

The prosecution has also introduced allegations involving a business linked to Hanan’s wife, identified as Alqarni Enterprise.

According to the charge sheet, between September 2018 and August 2019, NAFCO allegedly made payments exceeding GH¢3.34 million to the company for purported food supply transactions.

Prosecutors claim the transactions were fraudulent and amounted to stealing and abuse of office.

Charges Against Faiza Seidu Wuni

Faiza Seidu Wuni, named as the second accused person, faces separate charges including:

Defrauding by false pretences

Dishonestly receiving

Money laundering

The State alleges that she falsely represented that her company had supplied food items to NAFCO, leading the agency to part with over GH¢3.34 million.

Prosecutors further allege that she knowingly received and possessed funds obtained through unlawful means.

Under the money laundering count, the Attorney-General argues that she took possession of the funds while allegedly aware that they originated from criminal activity.

Legal and Political Controversy

The prosecution has become increasingly controversial amid accusations from the defence and opposition politicians that the State is abusing prosecutorial powers

Counsel for Hanan, former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, previously criticized EOCO over the handling of the accused persons after their re-arrest, alleging that investigators denied them access to lawyers and refused bail despite existing court processes.

Dame described the conduct of investigators as “pre-trial torture and harassment” and accused prosecutors of engaging in an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

The opposition New Patriotic Party has also condemned EOCO’s conduct, accusing the governing NDC administration of using state security agencies for political intimidation.

In a statement signed by National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, the party argued that Hanan and his wife had consistently complied with bail conditions and court appearances and therefore posed no flight risk warranting detention.

Civil Society Concerns

The handling of the case has also drawn reactions from policy and governance groups.

President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, recently questioned why the State withdrew charges after nearly a year of active prosecution if it genuinely possessed a strong case from the beginning.

He warned against placing accused persons through what he termed a “legal merry-go-round” without compelling justification.

A Defining Anti-Corruption Trial

Despite the criticism, the Attorney-General’s Department appears determined to aggressively pursue the renewed prosecution.

Legal analysts say the refiled charges significantly broaden the scope of the case and could become a defining test of Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, prosecutorial credibility, and commitment to due process.