University of Ghana Lecturer and Others Arrested Over GH¢106K Hostel Room Allocation Fraud

A lecturer and two students have been arrested and arraigned at Accra Circuit Court, over accusations of fraudulently collecting money to provide beds to students.

Two students and a lecturer have been arraigned at Accra Circuit Court, accused of fraudulently collecting money to provide beds to students.

The suspects, Joseph Appiah, Stephen Nimako Ansong, and Dr. Kwadwo Owusu Ayeh, a 58-year-old Senior Hall Tutor, face charges of conspiracy and 32 counts of defrauding by false pretences.

The accused, who are level 400 University of Ghana students and a lecturer, allegedly collected GH¢106,800 to provide beds and rooms to students at Dr. Hilla Liman Hall. Appiah and Nimako are additionally charged with abetment of corruption of and by a public officer, while Dr. Ayeh faces an additional charge of corruption by a public officer.

All defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted GH¢100,000 bail with one surety. The trial judge instructed the prosecution to comply with disclosure rules and adjourned the case to July 30, 2024.

The case was reported by Professor Gordon Awandare, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, on October 17, 2023. Over 30 students, who each paid between GH¢2,000 and GH¢2,500, were identified as victims, leading to the total amount of GH¢106,800 being collected.

Accommodation issues in universities have been a persistent problem. Recently, University of Cape Coast students protested a sudden increase in hostel fees, claiming the increment was announced without prior notice.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, YEN.GH