An Accra Circuit Court has discharged a lecturer and two students accused of collecting GH₵106,800 under the pretext of allocating rooms and beds to students at the Dr Hilla Liman Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon.
The court, presided over by Judge Isaac Addo, struck out the case after receiving a formal request from the University of Ghana—the complainant—to discontinue the trial. This decision followed the refund of the full amount by the two students to the police.
The judge also ordered the police to return the money to all 32 affected students.
The accused persons—Joseph Appiah, 25, Stephen Nimako Ansong, 24, and Dr Kwadwo Owusu Ayeh, 58, a Senior Hall Tutor—had been jointly charged with conspiracy and 32 counts of defrauding by false pretences.
In addition, Appiah and Ansong faced a charge of abetment of crime, while Dr Ayeh was separately charged with corruption by a public officer. They all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail of GH₵100,000 each with one surety.
Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, leading the prosecution, told the court that the complainant, Professor Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University, petitioned the Accra Regional Police Command on October 17, 2023, to investigate suspected fraudulent bed allocations at the hall.
A day later, a team of detectives from the Accra Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID), led by then-Regional Crime Officer Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Osei-Agbogah, began investigations on campus.
The prosecution said 32 students were identified as victims. They confirmed that Appiah and Ansong collected between GH₵2,000 and GH₵2,500 each from them, promising accommodation at Dr Hilla Liman Hall, which never materialized.
During interrogation, Appiah and Ansong reportedly admitted to working with Dr Ayeh in the bed allocation scheme. Investigations also revealed that Dr Ayeh, after assuming office, allegedly conspired with Ansong to scout for students needing accommodation. Ansong then brought in Appiah to assist in collecting funds from prospective occupants.
The trio succeeded in collecting a total of GH₵106,800, of which GH₵30,000 was initially refunded by Ansong. The full amount was later recovered.
With the University’s decision to withdraw the complaint and the money recovered, the court discharged all three accused persons and formally ended the criminal proceedings.
Source: GNA
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