Accra: A 28-year-old lawyer, Magdalene Aba Amporful, has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly collecting $150,000 from a nurse under the pretext of purchasing a house. She has been charged with defrauding by false pretence and pleaded not guilty. The court, presided over by a Circuit Judge, admitted Amporful to bail in the sum of GHS100,000 with two sureties, one to be justified, and directed her to report to the Police once every two weeks. The matter has been adjourned to March 19, 2026, for Case Management Conference.
According to Ghana News Agency, the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, informed the court that the complainant, Dorcas Koomson Ayittey, a nurse residing in the United States of America, contacted Amporful in 2020 to assist in purchasing a four-bedroom house. ASP Frimpong explained that Amporful informed Ayittey she had secured a property at Cape Coast for $75,000 and requested payment, which Ayittey sent, and Amporful confirmed receiving.
The prosecutor further stated that Amporful later told Ayittey about another property at Spintex, offered by Western View Villa Estate, at a cost of $150,000. She convinced Ayittey to dispose of the Cape Coast property, claiming it had been sold for $80,000, and requested a top-up of $70,000. Ayittey complied, bringing the total to $150,000. Amporful then claimed to have secured the Spintex property from Michael Kojo Opata, Manager of Western View Villa Estate.
In December 2024, Ayittey travelled to Ghana and asked Amporful to show her the property, provide receipts of payment, and hand over the keys. However, ASP Frimpong reported that Amporful declined and gave excuses, prompting Ayittey to report the matter to the Police. Ayittey was arrested and admitted the offence in her caution statement. Investigations revealed that Amporful had not purchased any property.
The Police confirmed with Peace Eyira Dokeh, the caretaker of the Cape Coast property, that Amporful had never bought the house. Further inquiries with the Manager and Director of Western View Villa Estate established that no payment had been made by Amporful for the Spintex property. The prosecution noted that Amporful could not produce any receipts or documents to suggest she had entered negotiations for the purchase of property on behalf of Ayittey after receiving the $150,000.