Ghana Police Return $85K Found on Highway to Grateful Owner

When police officers spotted a bag lying on the Techiman-Kumasi Highway at 4:20 a.m., they had no idea it contained enough money to change their lives forever.

Inspector George Appiah and three fellow officers were manning a routine checkpoint near Techiman in Ghana's Bono East Region on February 14 when they noticed the suspicious bag by the roadside. They suspected it had fallen from a passing vehicle during the early morning hours.

The bag had a name written on it: "Ofori" and a phone number. When the officers opened it and discovered it was stuffed with 85,000 Ghanaian cedis (approximately $6,000 USD), they immediately reported it to the Regional Police Command.

The officers called the number on the bag and reached Stephen Ofori, a 53-year-old businessman from Kumasi. He had been transporting the money from GCB Bank in Wa to Kumasi in a commercial vehicle when the bag went missing.

Ofori rushed to the checkpoint to claim his money. Police counted the full amount in his presence and, after verifying his identity and story, handed over every cedi.

Sunny's Take

In a world where stories of corruption often dominate headlines, these four officers chose integrity over temptation. Inspector Appiah and his team could have split the money and disappeared into the night, but they saw something more valuable than cash: the chance to do what's right.

The Ghana Police Service publicly commended the officers, calling their actions "a clear demonstration of honesty, professionalism and public trust." For Stephen Ofori, the return of his money meant more than avoiding financial loss. It meant witnessing firsthand that good people still exist in positions of power.

The story has sparked conversations across Ghana and beyond about the importance of training, accountability, and celebrating integrity in public service. When officers are recognized for doing the right thing, it creates a culture where honesty becomes contagious.

These four officers proved that character isn't about what you do when everyone is watching, but what you choose when no one would ever know.