Five individuals have been apprehended in Accra in connection with the printing and distribution of a significant amount of counterfeit Ghanaian cedis and US dollars, totaling GH¢2.3 million and $191,900, respectively. The arrests followed an intelligence operation on June 16, 2025.
The accused appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Friday and have been remanded into lawful custody. They are Shubham Sharma (General Manager), James Mozu Bonaparte (graphic designer), Prince Owusu Ahenkorah (photographer/video director), Jonathan Kwame Appiah, and Solomon Adjetey Adjei (both graphic designers).
Charges and Court Proceedings
All five individuals face a joint charge of conspiracy to commit a crime. Sharma, Bonaparte, and Ahenkorah are additionally charged with possession of forged notes, while Appiah and Adjei face charges of uttering forged notes.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, did not take their pleas. They are scheduled to reappear on July 3, 2025. Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, leading the prosecution, requested the remand to allow for further investigations.
Allegations of Theft and Counterfeiting
Sources indicate that the complainant is an Accra-based businessman (name withheld). The investigation suggests that Shubham Sharma, the first accused, allegedly stole $230,000 from the businessman’s bedroom safe after embezzling company funds. He is accused of then replacing the stolen amount with the discovered counterfeit Ghana cedis and US dollars.
A search conducted at the cash office of the company, located in the Adabraka Industrial Area, led to the discovery of GH¢2,318,000 in fake GH¢200 notes and $191,900 in fake $100 notes. Sharma reportedly admitted to keeping the counterfeit notes in the office.
Unraveling the Counterfeiting Network
Police investigations further revealed the alleged network behind the counterfeit operation. Sharma purportedly paid Bonaparte GH¢25,000 for the fake Ghana cedis and GH¢15,000 for the fake dollars. Bonaparte and Ahenkorah are believed to have conspired to supply Sharma with the counterfeit currency.
During a search, security personnel recovered five bundles of fake GH¢200 notes from Ahenkorah. He subsequently implicated Appiah, stating that Appiah, who manages a printing press, supervised the printing of the fake currency. Appiah, in turn, led the police to arrest Adjei, who is alleged to have handed over the counterfeit notes to Ahenkorah.
The arrests shed light on a sophisticated counterfeiting ring operating in Accra.
Source: http://thepressradio.com
