Trader in court for selling fake university admission letters

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - A Circuit Court in Accra on Friday sentenced a trader to three years' imprisonment for his involvement in collecting a total of GH 3,100 cedis (31 million cedis) from two students under the pretext of issuing them with genuine admission letters to the University of Ghana, Legon.

Nana Yaw Ansah pleaded guilty to possessing forged documents and was therefore convicted and sentenced on his own plea. Ansah, alias Mankind, however, leaded not guilty to conspiracy, defrauding by false pretences and attempted fraud and he will reappear on September 11 in respect of the other charges.

Assistant Superintendent of Police E. Yaw Frimpong told the court presided over by Mr Justice Frank Manu, a high court judge with additional responsibility as a circuit court judge, that Ansah was a second-hand clothes seller at the Kantamanto Market in Accra. He said during the registration of fresh students into the University of Ghana, Legon, for the 2006/07 academic year, the accused and his accomplice, one Timothy, now at large, collected GH 1,700 cedis (17 million cedis) from Ms Maame Sika Dapaah and GH 1,400 cedis (14 million cedis) from Mr Eric Boateng Agyemang.

The Prosecutor said Ansah said the money was meant for registration processes to enable the fresh students gain admission into the university, but the accused failed to assist them.

According to him, Ms Dapaah's mother who was not convinced about the deal, managed to meet Timothy and after an interrogation, the accomplice sensed danger and therefore requested Ansah to retrieve the false admission letter from the student.

ASP Frimpong said the police were alerted and surveillance was mounted on the accused who was subsequently arrested. When his room was searched, the police found the admission letters of the University for 2006/07 academic year, which were addressed to eight students, and other false documents.

He said when the university authorities determined that they were fake letters.