In a jaw-dropping case that exposes the underbelly of corporate greed, alleged judicial manipulation, and police complicity, Stephen Komla Adom, co-owner of Dominion Paints Manufacturing Industries Limited (DOPAMIL), has seen his business taken from him under dubious circumstances. The key players in this saga include Quick Angels Limited (QAL), a firm claiming to support entrepreneurial ventures, and Fidelity Bank, one of the major financial institutions in the country, allegedly using their influence in connivance with the police and the courts to frame Adom. This orchestrated conspiracy has left a devastating trail in its wake, highlighting serious concerns about corporate ethics, judicial fairness, and law enforcement accountability in Ghana.
In December 2021, this carefully crafted scheme took shape, marking the beginning of Adom’s prolonged nightmare. At its core, this case paints a damning picture of how the system can be manipulated by powerful entities to exploit and dispossess unsuspecting business owners of their assets. As we break down the intricate details of the case, it becomes evident that this is more than just a story of a business partnership gone wrong. It is a cautionary tale of how influence, power, and manipulation can be used to devastate individuals who dare to stand in the way of corporate giants.
The Joint Venture: A Promising Start Turned Bitter
Dominion Paints Manufacturing Industries Limited (DOPAMIL) was once a promising paint manufacturing company, co-owned by Stephen Komla Adom. The company was set to make significant strides in the industry, offering high-quality paint products and aiming to become a key player in the market. Like many entrepreneurial ventures, DOPAMIL sought to grow and expand, leading to a partnership with Quick Angels Limited (QAL), a company known for investing in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The joint venture seemed to be a strategic move for both parties. Quick Angels, led by Richard Nii Armah Quaye, presented itself as a financial partner that could help elevate DOPAMIL’s operational capacity, enabling the company to scale and reach new markets. However, what appeared to be a mutually beneficial relationship soon devolved into a battle for control over the company.
Adom’s nightmare began when his business partner, QAL, allegedly made false accusations, leading to a legal case that culminated in Adom losing control of his company. What followed was a complex web of legal actions, fraudulent transactions, frame-up, intimidation, and ultimately, a takeover of his business by QAL.
The Legal Ordeal Begins: Quick Angels Sues Adom
On December 17, 2021, Quick Angels Limited, through its representative Raj Saibu Tamanjah, initiated a lawsuit against Adom in the Ho High Court, marking the first step in what would become a lengthy and convoluted legal battle. In their statement of claim, QAL accused Adom of forcefully locking up the factory premises, preventing employees and management from accessing the facility. The claim was that on December 13, 2021, Adom allegedly broke the security doors of the factory, changed the locks, and locked the premises, thereby obstructing the day-to-day operations of the business.
This accusation, which would later be proven false, was the foundation upon which QAL sought to justify its actions. In Paragraph 13 of their statement of claim, QAL asserted that Adom had willfully prevented staff from carrying out their duties, a move they claimed would result in significant financial losses for the company.
Based on these claims, QAL sought an interlocutory injunction to prevent Adom from interfering with the company’s operations. Just three days later, on December 20, 2021, the Ho High Court granted QAL’s request for the injunction. This order barred Adom from accessing the factory premises and effectively handed control of the company over to QAL.
The Interlocutory Injunction: A Pretext for Hostile Takeover
The interlocutory injunction issued on December 20, 2021, would prove to be a pivotal moment in this saga. The court order restrained Adom, his agents, and anyone acting on his behalf from entering the factory premises or interfering with the daily operations of the business. While such orders are typically meant to preserve the status quo until the resolution of the dispute, in this case, it served as the pretext for a hostile takeover.
Barely 24 hours after the injunction was granted, QAL, under the leadership of Raj Saibu Tamanjah and aided by law enforcement, stormed the factory premises. Accompanied by two heavily armed police officers, Issaka Ibrahim (PID Unit) and Baman Bright (SWAT Unit), QAL’s agents forced their way into the factory. According to witnesses, the agents brandished firearms and threatened Adom, his daughter, Nunana Afi Adom, and several factory workers. The threats were explicit: "I will kill you, I will kill you," shouted the agents, as they pointed guns at the unarmed factory workers.
The presence of law enforcement officers not only provided QAL with a sense of impunity but also ensured that any resistance from Adom or his staff would be quickly suppressed. In the face of this overwhelming show of force, Adom had little choice but to surrender control of the factory.
Also, on the 30th of May, 2022, one Worlanyo and justice, all agents of QAL invaded the factory premises with machete and other offensive weapons wielding thug, deep in the night, to chase out resident factory workers from their place of abode to the roadside, leaving the hugely traumatized workers to spend the night outside the gates, along the street. This was reported to the Anyirawase police, but they refused to take any action compelling angry youth from surrounding villages to come chase them out of the premises.
A Trail of Vandalism and Theft
With Adom and his staff forced out of the factory under threat of violence, QAL proceeded to vandalize the premises. According to eyewitnesses and photographic evidence, QAL’s agents broke into the factory warehouse and stole products valued at thousands of Ghanaian cedis. These products, which were under the custodianship of Adom, represented a significant portion of the company’s inventory. The theft not only depleted DOPAMIL’s resources but also hindered its ability to fulfill orders and generate revenue.
The vandalism didn’t stop there. QAL’s agents went as far as sealing the factory’s 3 emergency exits with cement blocks, effectively cutting off all means of access to the building. The main gate was locked with chains and padlocks, further ensuring that no one, not even the workers, could enter the premises.
Despite the interlocutory injunction being in place to preserve the operations of the factory, QAL’s actions effectively shut down the business. This blatant disobedience to the court order went unchecked, as law enforcement, who had been present during the takeover, made no effort to intervene or report the violations. It became clear that QAL’s intent was not to preserve the business but to seize control of it by any means necessary.
The Financial Manipulation: Fraudulent Withdrawals at Fidelity Bank
The plot thickened on December 22, 2021, when QAL, in a further act of deceit, manipulated Fidelity Bank officials to withdraw funds from the company’s account. Two cheques, one for GH₵21,500 and another for GH₵29,400, were withdrawn from DOPAMIL’s account, allegedly by QAL’s representatives, including Emmanuel Nii Lamptey (General Manager of QAL), Raj Saibu Tamanjah and Joseph Baah Tetteh.
To cover their tracks, QAL enlisted the help of Fidelity Bank officials, Kafui Dzormeku and Stephanie Agbalenyo, who entered Adom’s name into the bank’s system as the person who had made the withdrawals. Fraudulent bank statements were generated, showing Adom as the payee for these and many other such withdrawals, amounting several thousands of Ghana cedis, captured in the fraudulent bank statement, further implicating him in the theft of company funds.
These fraudulent transactions would later form the basis of QAL’s claims that Adom had been siphoning money from the company’s accounts without authorization. In court, QAL presented the doctored bank statements as evidence of Adom’s alleged embezzlement, further tarnishing his reputation and solidifying their case against him.
The involvement of Fidelity Bank in this scheme raises serious questions about the integrity of the banking system and its role in facilitating corporate fraud. How could a reputable financial institution allow such blatant manipulation of its records? And why were the bank officials involved not held accountable for their actions?
The Court Case: Perjury and Judicial Manipulation
With the financial manipulation in place, QAL returned to court on December 30, 2021, accusing Adom of contempt of court. In their affidavit, QAL claimed that Adom had violated the court’s orders by continuing to lock the factory premises and withdrawing money from the company’s accounts.
Once again, QAL’s representatives, including Raj Saibu Tamanjah, lied under oath, presenting fabricated evidence to support their claims. They submitted photographs of the locked factory gates, which they claimed were taken after the interlocutory injunction had been issued. In reality, these photographs were taken after QAL’s own agents had sealed the premises with cement blocks.
The affidavit also accused Adom of stealing company funds and appropriating products meant to be sold to the public. These false accusations, coupled with the fraudulent bank statements, painted a picture of Adom as a rogue businessman who had not only disregarded the court’s orders but had also engaged in theft and fraud.
The court, presided over by Justice Charity Asem, accepted QAL’s claims without question. Despite the exculpatory evidence available to the court, including testimony from witnesses who had seen QAL’s agents seal the factory and steal products, Justice Asem appeared to side with QAL at every turn. Her rulings consistently favored the plaintiff, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The Verdict: A Questionable Conviction
On December 21, 2023, Justice Charity Asem delivered a controversial verdict that shocked those closely following the case. Despite the clear evidence of manipulation, perjury, and intimidation, the judge convicted Stephen Komla Adom of contempt of court. Adom was fined GH₵5,000 and required to sign a bond to ensure his good behavior until the final resolution of the dispute between himself and Quick Angels Limited (QAL).
The ruling raised several red flags. First, it appeared that the judge had dismissed the mounting evidence that pointed toward QAL's unlawful conduct, including their blatant disregard for the court’s own interlocutory injunction. Second, the testimonies provided by Adom's team, witnesses, and other exculpatory evidence seemed to have been disregarded in favor of QAL’s fabricated claims.
To many observers, the conviction felt like the culmination of a broader scheme to strip Adom of his business, painting him as the villain while the true culprits walked away free. This perception was reinforced by the judge’s subsequent decisions, including her handling of the broader case between the two parties.
The Adjournment of the Case: A Strategic Move?
Less than a month after Adom’s conviction, on January 18, 2024, Justice Asem adjourned the case indefinitely, citing QAL’s inability to put its house in order. This indefinite adjournment, also known as sine die, left Adom in a precarious legal limbo. The very business he had built was now fully controlled by QAL, and he was left powerless to intervene or reclaim what had been taken from him.
Justice Asem’s decision to adjourn the case indefinitely came across as another blow to Adom’s chances of ever receiving justice. While the judge had previously imposed restrictions on Adom, barring him from participating in the affairs of the company unless assigned by QAL, this latest move effectively handed full control of Dominion Paints to QAL with no immediate pathway for resolution.
A Factory Taken Hostage
At the heart of this saga is Dominion Paints Manufacturing Industries Limited (DOPAMIL), a factory that had become a lifeline for Adom, his family, and countless employees. Since the December 2021 court orders, the factory had been under the physical and operational control of QAL. With Adom barred from accessing the premises, QAL had free rein to manage the company as they saw fit.
As of today, Dominion Paints continues to operate, but not under the leadership of its original owner. Instead, it is being run by QAL through its key figures, including Richard Nii Armah Quaye, Emmanuel Nii Lamptey, Raj Saibu Tamanjah, Worlanyo and Joseph Baah Tetteh—all individuals who played central roles in the takeover. Despite their actions and the accusations levelled against them, these individuals remain at the helm, managing the factory for their sole benefit.
What is perhaps most shocking is that the same police officers who were initially involved in the violent takeover of the factory are still assigned to "investigate" the very suspects they helped. Adom’s complaints to the police, filed on May 10, 2022, regarding the wrongful actions of QAL and its agents, have seemingly gone unanswered, with the police offering little more than lip service in response to the serious allegations.
The police, instead of holding QAL accountable for their actions, appear to be providing protection to the company’s operatives, enabling them to continue running the factory without interference. This blatant miscarriage of justice has left Adom without access to his business and income while his former partners profit off his hard work.
A Broader Pattern of Corporate Misconduct?
While Adom’s case is undeniably tragic, it raises larger questions about the corporate landscape in Ghana and the tactics used by powerful companies to exploit smaller businesses and entrepreneurs. Quick Angels Limited, which markets itself as a partner to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has positioned itself as a key player in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, the company’s handling of the DOPAMIL case has exposed a darker side of corporate investments and partnerships.
For many SMEs, partnerships with larger investors like QAL are seen as an opportunity for growth, stability, and increased access to resources. However, the DOPAMIL case reveals the risks inherent in these types of joint ventures. When power imbalances exist, as they often do between investors and smaller business owners, the potential for abuse is significant. Investors may leverage their financial clout, legal resources, and connections within the system to seize control of businesses, leaving their partners with little recourse.
The tactics employed by QAL in this case—false accusations, frame-ups, manipulation of legal processes, and coercion—are not unique. Similar patterns of corporate misconduct have been reported in other parts of the country, where powerful companies have been accused of using the courts and law enforcement agencies to take over valuable assets. In many cases, the business owners who suffer from these schemes lack the resources to fight back, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
The Role of Fidelity Bank: Complicit or Unaware?
One of the most concerning aspects of this case is the role of Fidelity Bank. As a major financial institution, Fidelity Bank is expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, ensuring that its systems are not used to facilitate fraud or other illegal activities. However, in this case, bank officials were directly involved in fraudulent withdrawals from DOPAMIL’s accounts.
On December 22, 2021, QAL agents, including General Manager Emmanuel Nii Lamptey and Joseph Baah Tetteh, visited a Fidelity Bank branch and orchestrated the withdrawal of funds from the company’s accounts. Two cheques, one for GH₵21,500 and another for GH₵29,400, were processed by Fidelity Bank officials, who then manipulated the bank’s records to show that Adom had made the withdrawals himself.
The complicity of the bank officials, Kafui Dzormeku and Stephanie Agbalenyo, cannot be overstated. By altering the bank’s records and generating false bank statements, these officials not only facilitated the theft of company funds but also provided QAL with fraudulent evidence to use against Adom in court. These falsified bank statements, showing Adom’s name as the payee, became a key piece of evidence in QAL’s case, further implicating him in acts of theft and fraud that he did not commit.
Further, the Fidelity Bank aided the QAL to frame Adom by backdating, twice, one 4th November, 2021 and another 25th November, 2021, bank receipt stamp on 2 forged resolutions both dated 27th October, 2021 and franked signatures of Adom, allegedly forged by the Bank officials to falsify the mandate on the Company’s bank account for the purpose of further implicating Adom for 2 withdrawals, one GHc5,000 and another GHc4,520 he lawfully made on 20th December, 2021.
The question that remains is whether Fidelity Bank, as an institution, was aware of the actions of its officials, or whether these individuals acted independently. Either way, the bank’s role in this case raises serious concerns about the integrity of its internal controls and the potential for financial institutions to be used as tools in corporate schemes.
The Police's Role: Enforcers of Injustice?
The involvement of the police in this case is perhaps one of the most troubling aspects of the entire saga. Law enforcement officers are expected to uphold justice, protect citizens, and investigate crimes impartially. However, in Adom’s case, the police have acted as enforcers for QAL, participating in the illegal takeover of DOPAMIL’s factory and offering no meaningful response to the subsequent complaints filed by Adom.
On December 21, 2021, two heavily armed police officers, Issaka Ibrahim from the Police Intelligence and Detective (PID) Unit and Baman Bright from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, accompanied QAL’s agents during the violent takeover of the factory. These officers, did not only use the name of a purported Judge called “Godfred” to intimidate, but also used threat of death to chase Adom, his daughter, and resident factory workers out of the premises. The said policemen pointing guns at Adom and his daughter threatened in plain words “I will kill you, I will kill you”. They also allegedly participated in the looting of paint at the factory.
Despite the clear violations of the law, these officers have faced no repercussions for their actions. Instead, they have continued to serve in their positions, seemingly immune from accountability. This lack of accountability extends to the broader police force, which has failed to act on Adom’s complaints or conduct a thorough investigation into QAL’s illegal activities.
The fact that the police are now tasked with investigating the very suspects they aided in the factory takeover speaks to the deep corruption and conflicts of interest that pervade this case. It also highlights the broader issue of police complicity in corporate schemes, where law enforcement agencies are co-opted by powerful interests to carry out illegal actions.
Justice Denied: Adom's Struggle for Accountability
As the dust settles on this convoluted legal and corporate saga, one thing is clear: justice has been denied to Stephen Komla Adom. His business, Dominion Paints, has been taken from him, his reputation has been tarnished, and his livelihood has been destroyed, all due to the actions of Quick Angels Ghana Limited, Fidelity Bank Gh officials, and the complicit police force.
Adom’s attempts to seek justice through the courts have been met with resistance at every turn. From the questionable rulings of Justice Charity Asem to the police’s failure to investigate, Adom has been left to fight an uphill battle against a system that seems determined to protect the interests of the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable.
For now, Dominion Paints remains under the control of QAL, while Adom continues to be denied access to the business he built. His hopes for reclaiming his company and restoring his reputation rest on the slim chance that the judicial system will eventually recognize the wrongdoing that has taken place. Until then, Adom’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of corporate partnerships, the potential for legal manipulation, and the often-overlooked issue of police complicity in corporate takeovers.
A Call for Reform: Lessons from Adom’s Case
Stephen Komla Adom’s case is not just an isolated incident. It highlights broader systemic issues that plague the business and legal environments in Ghana, particularly when it comes to the treatment of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
A Call for Justice: Righting the Wrongs Against Stephen Komla Adom
The case of Stephen Komla Adom is a distressing reminder of the far-reaching consequences when power, money, and influence are used to manipulate the justice system for corporate gain. Adom’s story, in which his company was seized through lies, perjury, and coercion, paints a dire picture of how small business owners and entrepreneurs can be victimized in partnerships with larger entities. This is not merely a tale of business betrayal—it is a grave miscarriage of justice that demands immediate attention and rectification.
Adom’s plight should serve as a rallying cry for those who believe in the principles of fairness, justice, and the rule of law. The courts, the police, and corporate partners must be held to account for their role in this orchestrated conspiracy. The failure of the judicial system to protect Adom’s rights, the blatant misuse of police power, and the fraudulent actions by QAL and Fidelity Bank officials all point to systemic failures that need to be addressed.
Justice for Stephen Komla Adom means not just a reversal of the wrongful actions taken against him but also a broader reckoning with the forces that allowed this to happen. The legal system must revisit the rulings, reexamine the evidence, and hold those responsible for perjury, fraud, and intimidation accountable. Fidelity Bank’s role in this scheme requires investigation, and those involved should face the full consequences of the law for facilitating fraudulent withdrawals. Equally, the police officers who participated in the illegal takeover must be subjected to independent scrutiny and punished for their complicity.
For Adom, justice is the restoration of his company, Dominion Paints, to his control. It is the clearing of his name, which has been tarnished by false accusations. It is the assurance that no other entrepreneur or small business owner will fall victim to the same kinds of corporate malfeasance and legal manipulation that he has endured.
This case highlights the urgent need for reforms in Ghana’s legal and corporate systems to prevent the abuse of power by influential entities. Mechanisms must be put in place to ensure the accountability of financial institutions, courts, and law enforcement agencies when they fail to protect the rights of individuals and small businesses. Only then can entrepreneurs like Stephen Komla Adom operate without fear of being undermined by the very systems designed to protect them.
Stephen Komla Adom’s fight is not just his own—it is a battle for all small business owners and entrepreneurs across Ghana who seek fairness and integrity in their dealings. Now, more than ever, justice must be served for Adom, and his story must stand as a testament to the need for reform in the face of systemic injustice. Let this case not be another forgotten tale but a catalyst for change in the pursuit of real justice.
