Tabloid News of Monday, 24 November 2003

Source: GNA

Two impersonators dragged to court

Two persons who allegedly presented Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) slips of their relations in order to be enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces were remanded into prison custody by an Accra Circuit Court on Monday. Osei Benedict, 22, and Shirley Ngeh, 24, pleaded not guilty to impersonation and deceit of public officer.

They are to re-appear on November 28.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu told the court, presided over by Mr Williwise Kyeremeh that the complainant was the Commandant, Ghana Military Police, Burma Camp, while accused persons are from Asante Mampong and Bongo in Ashanti and Upper West Regions respectively.

Prosecution said accused persons are Senior Secondary School graduates who completed Collins Secondary School, Agogo and Gowri Secondary School respectively but failed to pass their examinations after sitting for last year. According to prosecution, Osei Benedict presented SSS results slips with good grades bearing the name of one Owusu Enoch Benedict and he was enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces.

Shirley Ngeh also used Bolgatanga Secondary School SSCE result slip bearing the name of her junior sister Irene Ngeh with good grades and she was also enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces last year.

Prosecutions said they both passed out successfully and were posted to the 37 Military Hospital to be trained as Nurses.

After intensive interrogation by the Army, accused persons broke down and confessed for having used the result slips of their relatives to join the Army.

When asked of the whereabouts of the original owners, they stated that they (owners) have travelled to Holland and Nigeria respectively.