Three individuals, including two students and a lecturer, have appeared before an Accra Circuit Court charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences. Joseph Appiah, 25, Stephen Nimako Ansong, 24, and Dr. Kwadwo Owusu Ayeh, 58, are accused of collecting GH₵106,800 from 32 students under the guise of providing beds and rooms at the Dr. Hilla Liman Hall of the University of Ghana.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, alleges that the accused persons conspired to defraud the students, with Appiah and Ansong demanding and collecting various sums of money ranging from GH₵2,000 to GH₵2,500. Dr. Ayeh, a Senior Hall Tutor at the university, is accused of conspiring with Ansong to identify students in need of accommodation and beds, and then collecting money from them.
According to the prosecution, the fraud came to light when the complainant, Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, petitioned the Accra Regional Police Command to investigate alleged ongoing bed-selling at Dr. Hilla Liman Hall. A team of detectives led by Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Osei-Agbogah was dispatched to the university to investigate.
During the investigation, 32 students who fell victim to the scheme were identified and contacted, and they confirmed that Appiah and Ansong had demanded and collected money from them, promising to allocate rooms and beds. The accused persons were arrested and admitted to the crime during interrogation.
The court heard that Ansong had refunded GH₵30,000 to the affected students, but the remaining amount is still outstanding. The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of GH₵100,000 each with a surety each. The trial judge has ordered the prosecution to comply with the rules of disclosures and adjourned the matter to July 30, 2024.
As the case proceeds, the University of Ghana community is watching with keen interest, and the outcome may have implications for the institution’s policies and procedures regarding student accommodation. The university has a responsibility to ensure that students are protected from fraud and exploitation, and this case highlights the need for vigilance and accountability.
