A businessman has made an appearance before the Accra Circuit Court, facing allegations of defrauding a farmer of GH¢200,000 under false pretenses of enlisting individuals into Ghana’s security services. Emmanuel Goodluck Asempa, the accused, is said to have promised to secure positions for 30 people in various organizations such as the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Armed Forces, through protocol allocations.
According to the prosecution, Asempa collected sums ranging from GH¢5,000 to GH¢10,000 from the victims in 2020 and subsequently went into hiding. However, on June 14 of this year, the police located him at his hideout and brought him into custody. Asempa has pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding by false pretense.
During the court proceedings presided over by Isaac Addo, Asempa was remanded into police custody to allow for further investigations into the case. The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, requested the court to remand the accused in order to facilitate the apprehension of any accomplices involved.
When asked by the trial judge if he had any comments regarding the prosecution’s request, Asempa responded, “I have admitted the fact, but I am only disputing the amount involved. I have told the police all that I needed to tell them.” The accused individual is scheduled to appear in court again on July 3, 2023.
According to the prosecution’s account, the complainant, a 54-year-old farmer residing in Osu, Accra, met Asempa approximately three years ago at Afrikiko restaurant, and they developed a friendship. During their conversations, Asempa claimed to operate a travel and tour business, as well as assisting individuals in obtaining employment in security services and government agencies.
Based on this information, the complainant trusted Asempa and informed friends who also expressed interest in the enlistment opportunity. Asempa further informed the complainant that he had connections for protocol enlistment in organizations such as the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Armed Forces, and other security services.
To deceive the victims, Asempa falsely assured them that the protocol enlistment would bypass the normal application process. Once the victims paid the required fees, they were told they would undergo medical examinations and training. The amount charged by the accused varied between GH¢5,000 and GH¢10,000, depending on the specific security service the individual desired to join.
The prosecution revealed that the complainant collected a total of GH¢200,000 from the victims and handed it over to Asempa. Some of the funds were transferred through the accused person’s mobile money account and a Fidelity Bank account at the Adum branch. After collecting the money, Asempa went into hiding, avoiding calls from the victims and resorting to insults when he did answer.
On March 22, 2023, a report was filed with the police, leading to Asempa’s arrest on June 14 at the Alisa Hotel area in Accra. In his caution statement, the accused admitted to the offense and implicated three of his friends, namely Nana Gyemfi, Naana Emelia, Ama Acheampong Gyeamah, Philip Kofi Owusu Brempong, and Eric Okyereh, as the individuals who allegedly collected the money, but he claimed ignorance about their whereabouts.
