The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

Godfred Yeboah Dame, Ghana's former Attorney-General, is accusing the government of violating a court order by causing the arrest of his client, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, a former National Buffer Stock Company CEO. Abdul-Wahab was arrested on July 4 at Accra International Airport as he attempted to travel to the United Kingdom for a scheduled eye appointment.

Godfred Yeboah Dame said the arrest at Accra International Airport flies in the face of a High Court order granted to Abdul-Wahab on June 29 to travel abroad. The High Court, presided over by Justice Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, granted Abdul-Wahab permission to travel from July 4 to July 12. This is not the first time this has happened; in recent years, several high-profile cases have seen accused persons granted permission to travel abroad for various reasons.

One of them is Dr Stephen Opuni, who was permitted to travel in and out of the country while standing trial. Similarly, Seidu Agongo, Collins Dauda, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and many others have all been granted permission to travel abroad in the past. However, the latest arrest of Hanan Abdul-Wahab has sparked outrage from his former Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame.

According to Godfred Yeboah Dame, the government's explanation for the arrest is false and intended to justify an unlawful action. The former Attorney-General said the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Srem Sai, made false claims that Abdul-Wahab attempted to withdraw money from a frozen bank account. This, Dame says, is untrue.

The freezing orders on Abdul-Wahab's accounts had lapsed after the withdrawal of charges against him on May 5, 2026. New charges were filed on May 15, but the High Court at Adentan ruled five days later that there is no valid freezing order in place on Abdul-Wahab's accounts.

Godfred Yeboah Dame has announced plans to commence contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General, and the Director of the BNI over the arrest.

### Key Facts

  • Hanan Abdul-Wahab was arrested at Accra International Airport on July 4.
  • The High Court granted Abdul-Wahab permission to travel from July 4 to July 12.
  • This is not the first time a court has granted an accused person permission to travel abroad.
  • Dr Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo, Collins Dauda, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and many others have been granted permission to travel abroad in the past.
  • Godfred Yeboah Dame plans to commence contempt proceedings against the Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General, and the Director of the BNI.