A group of Ghanaian businesswomen is appealing to President John Dramani Mahama, the Attorney General and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) after a court dismissed a criminal case involving a businessman they accuse of causing them to lose more than GH¢13 million in a failed import business arrangement.
The women say they entrusted the money to Elijah Diaseni, who allegedly promised to import goods on their behalf. However, after months of court proceedings, the case was dismissed on Wednesday, prompting the victims to seek intervention from the country’s top authorities.
The development has sparked widespread public debate, with many Ghanaians sympathising with the women while others argue the dispute may be better addressed through civil legal action.
Category: News
What Happened In The Elijah Diaseni Case
According to one of the complainants, Elijah Diaseni was arrested in March 2024 after multiple businesswomen accused him of taking their money under the promise of importing goods for them.
She said he was later granted bail, after which the case proceeded through the courts but suffered several adjournments before it was eventually dismissed on Wednesday.
The women say they have been left devastated by the outcome, insisting they continue to bear the financial burden of the alleged losses while the accused walks free.
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In a video circulating on social media, the women appealed directly to President Mahama, the Attorney General and the IGP to intervene and help them secure justice.
Online Reactions Offer Different Perspectives
The case has generated mixed reactions on X (formerly Twitter).
Many users expressed sympathy for the women, saying they deserve support after allegedly losing substantial sums of money.
Others argued that if the criminal case has ended, the complainants could explore civil legal action to recover their money. Some also urged business owners to insist on stronger contractual safeguards when entering high-value commercial transactions.
One X user, identified as @RichyDonPapa, claimed his sister was also among those affected but disputed suggestions that Elijah Diaseni deliberately set out to defraud customers.
According to the user, Diaseni’s business collapsed after he allegedly paid more than GH¢24 million to a supplier who failed to deliver, leaving him unable to repay customers.
The user also claimed Diaseni had refunded some customers before his financial difficulties worsened and that the court considered those efforts when determining the case. He further alleged that the business had been declared bankrupt.
Audity News has not independently verified these claims, and no court judgment explaining the reasons for the dismissal was immediately available at the time of publication.
Why The Case Matters
The case has reignited debate over how Ghana’s justice system handles disputes involving failed business transactions and allegations of fraud.
While criminal proceedings focus on whether an offence can be proved in court, people who suffer financial losses may also pursue civil remedies to recover money, depending on the circumstances of each case.
At the time of publication, neither President Mahama’s office, the Attorney General’s Department, the Ghana Police Service nor Elijah Diaseni had publicly responded to the women’s latest appeal.
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What Happens Next?
The businesswomen say they will continue seeking intervention from the relevant authorities in the hope of obtaining justice.
It remains unclear whether any further legal action will be taken or whether the complainants intend to pursue civil proceedings.
For now, the women insist they will continue pressing for answers after claiming to have lost more than GH¢13 million in the failed business arrangement.
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