The late former Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), Dr Isaac Akuetteh Bampoe Addo, has been cleared of allegations of stealing and forgery following investigations by the Ghana Police Service and a legal review by the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.

The investigations concerned allegations surrounding the withdrawal of GH¢500,000 from CLOGSAG's bank account in April 2024 and the purported unauthorised alteration of the association's bank withdrawal mandate.

According to a report by Ameyaw Debrah, the investigations found insufficient evidence to establish criminal liability against Dr Bampoe Addo and the association's former President, Benjamin Otoo, who were both named in the complaint.

The complaint was initiated by Ernest Tagoe, former Acting National Treasurer of CLOGSAG, and Emmanuel Acquah, former Acting First National Trustee, who petitioned the police over alleged financial misconduct involving the two executives.

The petitioners alleged that Dr Bampoe Addo and Otoo had forged a letter to Access Bank Ghana Limited to change the association's bank mandate from requiring approval by all four authorised signatories to allowing any two signatories to operate the account.

They further alleged that the alteration enabled the withdrawal and dishonest appropriation of GH¢500,000 from the association's account.

However, investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and a subsequent assessment by the Attorney-General's Office established that the disputed transaction was undertaken to finance CLOGSAG's 2024 May Day celebrations.

Police investigation establishes purpose of GH¢500,000 withdrawal

A four-page police investigation report prepared by the CID in November 2025 detailed the circumstances surrounding the disputed withdrawal.

The investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Ebenezer Tetteh, involved obtaining statements from the complainants and the two executives, examining CLOGSAG's constitution and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting records, and interviewing witnesses, including the association's accountant, Phillip Gariba.

According to the report, disagreements had emerged between the complainants and the association's leadership in April 2024 over the release of funds for the 2024 May Day celebrations.

The police established that Dr Bampoe Addo consulted NEC members and obtained their individual consent to change the bank mandate to enable the association to access the funds needed for the celebrations.

The decision was subsequently presented to the NEC for ratification.

On April 22, 2024, a letter titled *Resolution to Change the Mandate on CLOGSAG Main Account* was submitted to Access Bank, changing the withdrawal requirement from four authorised signatories to two.

Seven days later, on April 29, 2024, the two executives signed a cheque to withdraw GH¢500,000 from the association's account.

The police report documented expenditure of GH¢499,620, with the funds covering various activities associated with the May Day celebrations.

The expenditure included GH¢184,350 transferred to other regions, GH¢218,000 for food and feeding, GH¢49,245 for water and drinks, GH¢12,300 for transportation and allowances, and GH¢23,000 for publicity.

Additional payments were made for a brass band, banners and local drinks stands.

The investigation further established that the NEC unanimously ratified the change of bank mandate at an emergency meeting on November 30, 2024.

The report also noted that an earlier complaint lodged by the same petitioners with the Ministries Divisional CID had not been substantiated and was closed as unfounded following advice from the Accra Regional Police Legal and Prosecution Department.

The police investigation report was signed by Superintendent J. Osei Acheampong, Director-Administration of the CID, on behalf of the Director-General of CID.

A duplicate case docket was subsequently prepared for submission to the Attorney-General's Office for legal assessment and advice.

Attorney-General finds no evidence of stealing or forgery

Following its review of the investigation, the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice concluded that the available evidence did not establish the offences of stealing or forgery against the two executives.

In an official six-page correspondence dated April 16, 2026, and addressed to the Director-General of the CID, the Attorney-General's Office examined the circumstances surrounding the change of bank mandate, the consent obtained from NEC members, the subsequent ratification of the decision and the use of the withdrawn funds for the association's May Day celebrations.

The legal assessment also referenced statements from CLOGSAG regional executives Samuel Hagan Otabil and Abdul-Latif Yushawu, who confirmed their knowledge of and consent to the arrangement.

After considering the evidence, the Attorney-General's Office concluded that the two executives could not be held criminally liable for the alleged offences.

The correspondence stated:

“It is therefore the opinion of this Office that, the suspects cannot be held criminally liable for their actions as there is no evidence of stealing or forgery against them. In the circumstances, the suspects should be discharged.”

The letter was signed by Hilda W. Craig, Principal State Attorney, on behalf of the Attorney-General.

The recommendation for their discharge covered both Dr Bampoe Addo and Benjamin Otoo.

Dr Bampoe Addo died in August 2026, months after the Attorney-General's Office issued its legal opinion on the allegations.

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