Three inmates – two on remand and one a convicted prisoner – have been accused of defrauding a US-based Ghanaian woman of GH¢195,000 under the pretence of securing a visa to the United States for her son.
The accused – Joana Obeng, 35, a hairdresser; Evans Kwaku Gyan, 47, a driver and Augustin Yeboah, alias Charles, 36, also a driver – allegedly conspired to dupe the complainant’s son, Emmanuel Arko, a student resident in Berekum, Bono Region.
The case is being heard at the Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit.
Joana Obeng (A1) and Evans Gyan (A3), who are currently on remand for separate but similar fraud-related cases at Awutu Magistrate District Court and Accra Circuit Court 8 respectively, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences.
Despite their ongoing detentions, the court has granted them bail of GH¢200,000 each, to be justified by three public servants.
They are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registry and report to the police every two weeks.
The second accused (A1) Augustin Yeboah, is serving a 15-year sentence at the Nsawam Maximum Prison for previous offences of stealing and fraud.
His plea is yet to be taken, as a warrant has been issued to produce him in court. The case has been adjourned to July 7, 2025.
The Alleged Fraud Scheme
According to Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the Prosecutor, the complainant’s mother, Maa Vida, who lives in the United States, came into contact with the convict via Facebook.
The convict, advertising travel assistance services, offered to help her son obtain a U.S. visa.
He provided the contact number 0500481533 – registered to Obeng – for further communication.
In January 2025, Obeng met the complainant, Emmanuel Arko, at the Accra Mall, collected his passport and allegedly received multiple cash transfers amounting to GH¢195,000 through mobile money transactions registered in her name.
After collecting the money, the accused went silent, abandoning the provided contact number and becoming untraceable.
Subsequent police investigations uncovered a trail of deception and collaboration between the accused.
It was revealed that A2 and A3 had earlier rented a room at Lashibi for Obeng, whom A3 had met in person and introduced under the false name “Nana Kwadwo.”
Obeng reportedly admitted in her cautioned statement to operating several Telecel and MTN mobile money numbers – registered with her Ghana Card – to receive funds from victims, including Arko.
The funds, once received, were allegedly withdrawn and redirected through a chain of transfers involving A2 and A3.
One such transfer route was through mobile number 0538871472, registered to Anita Adjei, which was linked to both A2 and A3.
A3, in his statement, denied knowing Obeng but admitted receiving funds from the numbers associated with her.
Obeng, however, identified A3 at the police station as her accomplice, asserting that he assisted in renting her residence and collected most of the funds on behalf of A2.
The accused parties gave conflicting accounts and the case remains under investigation.
If found guilty, the accused faces penalties under Sections 23(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which criminalises conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences.
