The Spy News Agency (SNA) has unearthed a web of deceit and corruption surrounding Ghanaian businesswoman, Angela Diala List, in a groundbreaking investigation that has sent shockwaves through the business community.
Following a bold challenge by List herself to the SNA to provide evidence of her alleged illegal activities, the Agency has now come forward with compelling documents that paint a damning picture of her business practices.
The investigation, titled “Unveiling the Deception and Corruption of Ghanaian Businesswoman Angela List“, was published on June 14 and has since been met with fierce denials from List, who has threatened to sue for defamation against the SNA.
However, the SNA has stood firm, releasing further details meant to uphold its position. The evidence presented by the SNA includes allegations of deceit, embezzlement, theft, and preferential treatment from governments in multiple countries, including Liberia and Jordan.
List’s supposed attempts to capitalize on political connections for personal gain have also been laid bare in the investigation. Despite List’s vehement denials, documents obtained by the SNA reveal a trail of malfeasance and misconduct that span across borders.
From her unlawful actions in Australia, where she was ousted as CEO of a mining company, to her fraudulent schemes in Jordan, List’s questionable business practices have come under intense scrutiny. Moreover, the SNA’s findings point to misappropriation of funds, forged documents, and attempts to conceal assets purchased with ill-gotten gains.
List’s purported involvement in a complex web of financial misdeeds, including unauthorized cash transfers and questionable business dealings, has further tarnished her reputation.
In her rejoinder, Angela List had denied that she was involved in deceit and corruption in multiple countries saying the claims were unfounded and had no basis. She categorically stated that there was no basis or evidence to back them and challenged her accusers to provide evidence of their claims.
She argued that in her line of business transactions, she has consistently conducted herself well and upheld the highest level of integrity and strictly adhered to the laws and regulations of each of the countries she works in and that she made her money through hard work.
Documents produced by the SNA however do not support Angela List’s claims. According to SNA investigations, the lawless activities of Mrs List are known in every country she has worked in including Jordan and Australia.
In Australia, the Supreme Court of Western Australia, has made final determination on the ownership and control of Adamus Resources Limited – a company owned by her husband Paul List, an Australian national, and confirmed the illegality of actions embarked upon by Mrs. List, who is now described as the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
By a majority decision, the court had found that Mrs. List had tried to ‘expropriate’ her husband’s interest, and unlawfully attempted to remove the current director of the Adamus Resources Limited Australia, the registered parent company and replaced him with her own nominees, without having any proper board meetings or following due process in both Ghana and Australia.
Following the determination of that case by the court in December 2022, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Adamus Resources shareholders and directors of the Australian registered parent company, Adamus Resources Pty Limited, on 3rd February 2023, formally removed Angela List as the CEO of Adamus Resources Limited.
In Jordan, Mrs. List reportedly forged documents to take-over a joint venture investment by BCM International Company.
According to the documents made available to the SNA, Paul List established a foreign branch of BCM International Company in Jordan in 2016.
However, the misappropriation of company assets in Ghana resulted in Angela List being removed from her position at BCM and her ultimate resignation in October 2020.
Subsequently, Angela List was removed from the Jordanian company’s commercial register and the joint venture company. After her removal from BCM Group, List submitted documents to the Jordanian Ministry of Industry and Trade and Supply invalidating the appointments of representatives.
This included a forged power of attorney, in Angela List’s name, further claiming that List is a director and has signing authority.
Consequently, Paul List found himself unable to call a board meeting or act on behalf of BCM.
SNA revealed that Angela List withdrew USD 4 million on 21st April 2022 without Paul List’s knowledge despite the fact that she was no longer a director or authorized signatory in the Jordanian business.
She was alleged to have fraudulently withdrawn the cash by using forged documents. As a result of these actions, List is charged with complicity in fraud, leading to an arrest warrant being issued against her on 19th March 2024
This information is contained in documents in Exhibit 1 (Page: 42 paragraph 119 to 120) Exhibit 2, Exhibit 3, Exhibit 4 in the possession of this portal.
Exhibit 1.
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 3a
Exhibit 4
Mrs. List, in her rejoinder, discounted allegation that she was given any preferential treatment within the Weah-led government in Liberia and claims that she benefitted immensely from circles of high influence because of her stepfather Daniel Abodakpui, being a politician in Ghana.
“The claim that I received preferential treatment within the Weah-led government in Liberia and benefited from my father’s political connections in Ghana is false and misleading. My professional accomplishments stand as a testament to my own diligence, hard work, and commitment, entirely independent of any political influence. I have never capitalized on any political connections for personal benefit, and any suggestion that I have done so is a flagrant misrepresentation of my business ethics, values, and character. For over a decade, I have had the privilege of leading a talented team that has built a reputation for integrity and excellence in Liberia’s mining industry, predating the administration of former President Weah.”
“Our success is a direct result of our collective tireless work ethic, firm dedication, and resolute commitment to ethical business practices. As the leader of this team, I am proud of the achievements we have made together, which testify to the hard work, expertise, and dedication of each team member. Together, we remain steadfast in our steadfast commitment to conducting responsible and sustainable mining operations, playing an essential role in fostering the growth and development of Liberia’s mining sector whilst prioritizing the well-being of local communities and the environment”, Angela List continued in her rejoinder.
The SNA investigation however established that while Angela List acted as an Executive Director for the BCM Group, the business was awarded mining concessions under the CDC-led government headed by President Weah.
Weah served as a Senator of Montserrado County from 14th January 2015 to 22nd January 2018. Later, Weah assumed the Presidency of Liberia, holding office until January 22, 2024.
During this time, BCM International obtained an exploration license of base metals and gold on 4th April 2018 – three months after Weah assumed the Presidency, which is hardly a coincidence.
This license was issued shortly after Weah became President and was valid until 3rd April 2021. There are no evidence of licenses awarded before the Weah administration or after.
SNA revealed that in September 2021 (during the tenure of the Weah government), Angela List entered a Memorandum of Understanding with Grand Bassa County through her company Notre Dame. She was to excavate, process and sell five million tonnes of iron ore tailings. In exchange for the mining license, List agreed to make specific payments to the Government of Grand Bassa as well as engage in numerous community development initiatives for the surrounding area.
These community developments included: Upgrading the local high school, Annual contribution to the local university, Access to safe drinking water, Set up a local educational scholarship, Upgrade the community clinic to an acceptable standard.
Angela List and Notre Dame failed to make any payments to the Government of Grand Bassa County, and she did not undertake any of the community development promises despite over three years elapsing on the MoU. The Court held that the MoU was cancelled as List did not fulfil her obligations to the community or the government.
The Court observed that Angela List and Notre Dame made promises to the community that were never fulfilled. See page 4 of Exhibit 14.
Exhibit 14
List had also denied accusation that she was compelled to resign from BCM Group due to malfeasance, and negligence.
“Indeed, I remain a shareholder and director of the BCM Group of mining contracting companies (made up of BCM International Limited and BCM Ghana Limited) and am largely responsible for the success of the company from the year 2001 to 2021”.
“Indeed, by a ruling of the Commercial Court in Ghana, I am part of a 5-member Interim Management Committee that was set up and constituted to manage the affairs of BCM Ghana Limited. During my tenure at the helm of affairs at BCM Group, I did not face any allegations of misconduct and was responsible for the Company’s success in securing many contracts across the region and in Jordan. I implore SNA and Opera News to provide any evidence to substantiate these unfounded accusations”, she said in her rejoinder.
In exhibit 5 (Page: 159) of a document produced by SNA, evidence of cash transfers authorised by List from BCM during her tenure as Finance Manager, and without the knowledge of Paul List shows that Angela List transferred more than USD 7 million to purchase a resort (Lou Moon), a plane from Wright Brothers, and placed funds in an offshore trust.
Exhibit 5
For instance, a US $1.2Million was secretly transferred from a standard chartered account of BCM International: Cheque number (SCB/166326/20) to a BBankwest account with Swift ID (BKWAAU6P) belonging to Hartleys Limited Trust under the authority of Mrs List on March 24 2020.
According to other financial documents attached, other significant payments from BCM International company made to purchase a hotel were instructed by Angela List discreetly to ‘Paul Ramlot’, believed to be the original owner of the Lou Moon Hotel based in AXIM, alongside payments to a company by name ‘Corporate Legal Concept’. The Hotel registered as the property of Mrs Abodakpui, mother of Angela List.
Interestingly, Angela List’s rejoinder was mute on the SNA report that she had resorted to using her mother Agnes Abodakpi, the wife of Ghanian politician Daniel Abodakpi to conceal assets purchased with company funds. Surely, Daniel Abodakpi is aware of the actions of his stepdaughter Angela List. Note: Angela List’s biological father is a Lebanese (deceased) called Phili Akil, who passed on in 2020 after taking ill.
Exhibit 12
Exhibit 13
Angela List’s removal as Finance Manager on 3rd October 2020 and her subsequent resignation therefore was reportedly due to fund misappropriation and embezzlement contrary to her adverse assertion.
However, Angela List in her rejoinder stated thus: “I am part of a 5-member Interim Management Committee that was set up and constituted to manage the affairs of BCM Ghana Limited. During my tenure at the helm of affairs at BCM Group, I did not face any allegations of misconduct and was responsible for the Company’s success in securing many contracts across the region and in Jordan”.
NGUVU:
Following Mrs List’s dismissal from BCM and its affiliates and her collapsed marriage with Paul List, she intensified efforts to use her company NGUVU to annex Adamus Ghana and any other she could lay hands on and indeed attempted to change ownership of all her husband’s companies to NGUVU, SNA investigators disclosed.
The water-tight investigation by the Spy News Agency revealed that an Interim Management Committee was set up due to these misrepresentations and to continue the day to day running of Adamus Ghana.
The parent company and its shareholders felt that her actions had made her continuing to act as Adamus Resources Limited, Ghana untenable and not in the best interests of the company. A motion on notice for an order of interlocutory injunction was secured with the Superior Court of Judicature in the High Court of Justice Accra to prevent List and her company NGUVU from holding themselves out as Directors of Adamus and to prevent her from appointing officers including Odame Sarpong and others where she does not have authority to do so. Following this ruling, Angela List continued to hold herself out as the head of the group and it has been necessary for Adamus to seek an injunction against her for this reason.
List appealed against the injunction. As a result of the continued interference by List in the affairs of the company suspiciously with the aid of people in high places, the High Court of Justice (Commercial Division) in Ghana ordered on 27th July 2023 that an IMC be set up to manage the day-to-day affairs of Adamus Ghana.
See Exhibit 9: (10 and 11). 5.
Even though Angela List refuted claims that she transferred ownership of BCM Group assets to her company, NGUVU Holdings without the knowledge of her business partner and estranged husband, Paul List, documents and records of events have exposed her claim as untrue.
This is contained in Exhibit 1 (Paragraph 6 to 10) and Exhibit 10 of the court document.
Angela List registered a company called Mekinel Holding Limited (“Mekinel”) in 2018 in Liberia. Mekinel is owned by J. Emmanual Potter, who is part of the inner circles of President Weah. Ms List and Ambassador Finda N. Bunda, former Chief of Protocols under President Weah, are the Directors of the company.
Why would two senior government executives working under Weah be involved as directors in a company that Angela List established?
SNA reiterated that Mekinel is a holding company and does not appear to hold any assets. List has not advised what the purpose of this company is and there is no reason to believe the company is bona fide.
Exhibit 15
As the investigation delves deeper into List’s tangled web of deceit, questions have been raised about her connections to high-ranking government officials and the suspicious activities of her company, NGUVU. Revelations of attempts to annex her estranged husband’s businesses and transfer assets without authorization have only added to the mounting evidence against her.
In response to these damning revelations, List has continued to defend her actions, denying any wrongdoing, and attributing her success to hard work and dedication. However, the SNA’s meticulous investigation has cast a shadow over List’s claims of innocence, revealing a pattern of deceit and corruption that threaten to unravel her carefully constructed facade.
As the truth behind Angela List’s illicit business dealings comes to light, the repercussions of her actions are sure to reverberate throughout the business world.
Stay tuned as the SNA continues to expose the depths of deception and corruption surrounding this embattled businesswoman, and more.
Expect more on this in the coming days.