The Attorney-General’s Office found no evidence that late CLOGSAG executive secretary Dr Isaac Bampoe Addo stole GH¢500,000 or forged a bank letter, and advised police to discharge him, documents published on Wednesday show.
The legal opinion, dated Thursday, April 16, 2026, also covered Benjamin Otoo, who was acting president of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) when the money was withdrawn.
Dr Bampoe Addo died on Friday, August 21, aged 59. Blogger Ameyaw Debrah published the police report and the Attorney-General’s letter on Wednesday, November 4, three days before Dr Bampoe Addo’s burial in Accra.
“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 said.
Principal State Attorney Hilda W. Craig signed the document on behalf of the Attorney-General. The advice was provided to police on whether to prosecute; it was not a court judgment or an acquittal.
Allegations over the bank account
The complaint was made by Ernest Tagoe, then CLOGSAG’s acting national treasurer, and Emmanuel Acquah, its acting first national trustee.
They accused Dr Bampoe Addo and Mr Otoo of forging a letter to Access Bank Ghana Limited which altered the mandate on CLOGSAG’s main account. Under the revised arrangement, any two signatories, rather than all four, could operate the account.
The two complainants alleged that the change enabled the executives to withdraw GH¢500,000 and dishonestly appropriate it. Police investigated the matter under section 124(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, concerning stealing, and section 159, concerning forgery.
A four-page Criminal Investigation Department (CID) report prepared in November 2025 said the dispute began in April 2024 over the release of funds for that year’s May Day celebrations.
Detective Sergeant Ebenezer Tetteh took statements from both sides, examined the CLOGSAG constitution and National Executive Council (NEC) records, and interviewed the union’s accountant, Phillip Gariba.
Investigators concluded that Dr Bampoe Addo had obtained consent from NEC members individually before submitting the issue to the full council for ratification. The letter, titled “Resolution to Change the Mandate on CLOGSAG Main Account”, was sent to the bank on April 22, 2024. Dr Bampoe Addo and Mr Otoo signed a GH¢500,000 cheque seven days later.
Police traced GH¢499,620 of expenditure to the May Day events, including GH¢218,000 on food, GH¢184,350 sent to other regions, GH¢49,245 on water and drinks, GH¢23,000 on publicity, and GH¢12,300 on transport and allowances. The remaining spending covered banners, drinks stands and a brass band.
The mandate was unanimously ratified at an emergency NEC meeting on November 30, 2024. Police also recorded that an earlier complaint by the same two men had been closed as unfounded on advice from the Accra Regional Police’s Legal and Prosecution Department.
Superintendent J. Osei Acheampong, CID Director-Administration, signed the report for the Director-General. A duplicate docket was sent to the Attorney-General.
Leadership dispute
The Attorney-General’s review considered the mandate change, NEC members’ consent, the later ratification and the use of the funds. It also cited Abdul-Latif Yushawu and Samuel Hagan Otabil, two regional executives who said they knew about and approved the arrangement.
The case forms part of a wider leadership dispute at CLOGSAG. On November 30, 2024, the same day the mandate was ratified, the NEC dismissed Mr Tagoe and Mr Acquah from the association.
They challenged the decision in court. On September 29, 2026, the NEC reversed their dismissal in a notice signed by Samuel Antwi as acting president, while their case remained pending.
A week later, Mr Otoo, who also described himself as acting president, told members to disregard “purported” new appointments until the High Court ruled.
Dr Bampoe Addo was CLOGSAG’s longest-serving executive secretary and chaired the Forum of Public Sector Unions. In March 2026, he led the union’s more than 60,000 members on a nationwide strike over a delayed salary structure.
The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission said he had taken part in consultations on a proposed Independent Public Emoluments Commission barely a week before his death.
His twin, Sidney Nii Oko Bampoe Addo, died three weeks later, on Monday, September 14. Their sister, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, is a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency.
The family has announced a joint burial service for Saturday, November 7, at the State House forecourt in Accra, followed by a thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 8.
3News has not seen any public response to the findings from Mr Tagoe, Mr Acquah, CLOGSAG’s leadership or the Bampoe Addo family.
