I had no intention to run away from Ghana – Hanan Abdul-Wahab tells High Court

Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, has asked the High Court to dismiss an application by the Attorney-General seeking to set aside an earlier order that permitted him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

In an affidavit filed before the High Court in Accra, Mr. Abdul-Wahab described the Attorney-General's application as lacking merit, arguing that it was an attempt to justify what he characterised as his unlawful arrest and detention by state security agencies.

The Attorney-General filed the application after the High Court, on June 29, 2026, granted Mr. Abdul-Wahab permission to travel abroad while standing trial.

Rejecting claims that he intended to evade justice, Mr. Abdul-Wahab stated that he had complied fully with the court's directives by making travel arrangements that included a return to Ghana before the next hearing.

According to him, he was scheduled to depart for the United Kingdom on July 4, 2026, and return on July 12, 2026. He attached copies of his flight itinerary and hotel reservation to support his claim.

"I say without equivocation that it is completely false and malicious to allege that I had no intention of returning to stand trial," he stated in the affidavit.

Mr. Abdul-Wahab also rejected allegations that he attempted to access funds in frozen bank accounts, arguing that the prosecution had failed to provide details of the specific account, amount involved or the alleged mode of withdrawal.

He maintained that he neither withdrew nor attempted to withdraw money from any of his bank accounts.

The former NAFCO boss further alleged that he was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on July 4 after completing all departure formalities and accused the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) of unlawfully preventing him from travelling.

He claimed he was held in the custody of the BNI and later EOCO for four days before being released. He further alleged that his passport, two mobile phones and approximately £7,000 intended for his medical trip remain in the possession of the authorities.

Mr. Abdul-Wahab is asking the court to dismiss the Attorney-General's application and direct the immediate release of his seized personal belongings.

He and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, are currently standing trial over alleged financial impropriety involving funds belonging to the National Food Buffer Stock Company. Both have pleaded not guilty to 20 charges, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit, dishonestly receiving and money laundering.