Ghanaian authorities are deep into a sprawling investigation brazen auction fraud scandal involving Mr. Isaac Kojo Mensah—widely known as Opia Mensah—a former Adisadel Assemblyman turned rogue auctioneer.
Mr. Mensah is accused of masterminding a multi-layered fraud that has defrauded victims and state institutions of over GH₵6 million.
Trading under Hasnam Auction Mart, Mr. Mensah was lawfully authorized to auction off property as part of a court enforcement action.
However, instead of following standard procedures, he colluded with Mr. Allan Kweku Otoo Idun, a man with no license or legal authority to conduct auctions, to orchestrate a fraudulent scheme.
The property in question was initially sold for GH₵2.2 million—but none of that money ever reached the Accra High Court or the judgment creditor.
Instead, Mr. Mensah and Mr. Idun engaged in an even more sinister maneuver: they resold the same property for GH₵4 million behind closed doors, without conducting any lawful auction.
They then reported only GH₵1.6 million of that amount, effectively siphoning off millions.
This is not the duo’s first brush with financial misconduct.
Prior to the property scam, Mr. Mensah and Idun were already under investigation for a separate scheme involving fake auction vehicles.
Posing as intermediaries for vehicles allegedly impounded by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and Ghana Customs, they collected over GH₵2 million from hopeful buyers—none of whom ever received a vehicle.
This earlier case, which is being handled by the Ministry’s Police Station in Accra, had already raised red flags about his activities. Yet, he managed to remain at large long enough to perpetrate the even larger property scam.
A joint task force made up of the Ghana Police Service, the Institute of Auctioneers, and officials from the Accra High Court has now been mobilized to track down the fugitives.
Both suspects are believed to be deliberately evading arrest, and authorities fear they may be at the center of a larger auction fraud syndicate that has yet to be fully uncovered.
Legal experts say this case is a serious blow to the integrity of the judicial enforcement system and exposes weaknesses in how auctioneering licenses and court-authorized sales are monitored.
Law enforcement agencies are preparing for criminal prosecution once the suspects are apprehended, with charges likely to include fraud, impersonation, conspiracy, and financial misappropriation.
This scandal has sparked calls for systemic reforms in Ghana’s auction and asset seizure processes.
The Institute of Auctioneers Ghana has already pledged to tighten regulations and improve due diligence to prevent future abuse.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have dealt with Hasnam Auction Mart or paid for auctioned items through Opia Mensah or Allan Idun to come forward immediately. This could help expand the investigation and ensure restitution for defrauded victims.
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