Businesswoman Charged with Assaulting Police Officer and Theft

Accra: A 31-year-old businesswoman, Francisca Elikem Fudji, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly assaulting a police officer and stealing her former employer's property. According to Ghana News Agency, Fudji, who denied the charges, is alleged to have incited some persons, who are currently at large, to molest, assault, and obstruct a police officer from performing his lawful duties. Chief Inspector Clemence Takyi, prosecuting, informed the Court that the complainant, Jerry Owusu-Brempong, a businessman residing in Accra, employed Fudji in June 2024 to manage his shop, bar, and salon at Lapaz, Accra. The prosecution noted that the businesses had been in operation since 2020 and were previously managed by Owusu-Brempong. It further stated that Owusu-Brempong paid Fudji a monthly salary of GHS1,300, with instructions to pay other workers and deposit the remaining money into an account while he was away. Upon Owusu-Brempong's return to Ghana in June 2026, he discovered that Fudji had faile d to render accounts and had not made the necessary payments into his accounts as instructed. With the tenancy agreements for the three businesses expiring in December 2025, Owusu-Brempong decided against renewing them, opting instead to return the premises to the landlord. The prosecution revealed that when Owusu-Brempong attempted to retrieve his belongings from the shops, Fudji obstructed him and threatened to use 'her boys' to kidnap him if he proceeded. Consequently, Owusu-Brempong reported the incident to the Accra Regional Criminal Investigations Department, seeking assistance to recover his property. During the investigation, police personnel were assigned to inventory the complainant's items at the shops on August 12, 2026. On August 19, 2026, while supervising the removal of Owusu-Brempong's items, Fudji allegedly summoned unknown individuals to the scene, who obstructed the police officer from executing his duty. These individuals allegedly attacked, assaulted, and obstructed the police officer, demanding GHS5,000 from Owusu-Brempong, and subsequently seized the complainant's property while the police retreated. The items allegedly taken included a 75-inch Samsung television, a double-door refrigerator, a counter table, a three-in-one sofa chair, two shelves, 29 chairs, nine bar tables, and eight plastic chairs. When invited to the police station on August 24, 2026, Fudji claimed ownership of the items and disclosed that she had relocated them to an undisclosed location. The Court has granted Fudji bail in the sum of GHS200,000.00 with three sureties, who must be gainfully employed.