The Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) has commenced the prosecution of seven people at an Accra Circuit Court, for their alleged involvement in various crimes.
Some of them forged the certificates of the University of Ghana, Legon, Zenith University College, as well as Senior Secondary School Certificates, and secured employment at Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as officers.
Their unlawful activities had made SSNIT to lose GH¢238,888.78, which was paid to them as salaries between 2016 and 2018.
The accused, comprising three females and four males, are facing 33 charges, ranging from conspiracy, possessing forged documents, money laundering, and forgery of official documents among others.
They are, Ms. Sylvia Ama Boh, Ms. Brenda Bannerman, Ms. Susuana Okine also called Tetteh Susuana, Mr. Eric Dzokoto, Mr. Lawrence Obuoba, also known as Gbeney Lawrence Obuoba, Mr. Richmond Ampah and Mr. Prince Yeboah-Kodie.
But, Ms. Joyce Abena Donkor and Mr. Javanael Anthony Asmah are, however, on the run.
The accused had already been granted GH¢80,000.00 bail each, and the judge, Madam Afi Agbenu Kudomor, of Accra Circuit Court “9” adjourned the case to October 23, 2018, when the matter was called on Monday.
SSNIT had since dismissed Sylvia, Brenda, Joyce, Susuana, Eric Javanael and Lawrence.
According to the facts presented by EOCO, the Management of SSNIT received information that some of the employees had used fake certificates to secure employment in the establishment, and decided to conduct background check and vetting of various certificates submitted by its employees.
In the process, the names of the afore-mentioned were identified as those who used fake certificates to get job in the establishment.
The investigations revealed that Ms. Sylvia Ama Boh, who was an Assistant Benefits Officer Grade II, at the Kade Branch of SSNIT, presented a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Information studies with Economic (Second Class Honours-Lower Division) number 00064512 dated June 6, 2014, from the University of Ghana Legon, and on the basis of the certificate, she was confirmed as a permanent staff and put on the grade of Assistant Benefit Officer II, on January 17, 2017.
Prosecution said that the certificate was subjected to authentication at the Registrar’s Office, at the University of Ghana, Legon, and the results received on December 22, 2017, showed that the certificate was forged.
The University of Ghana said that it, indeed, awarded the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies (Major) and Economics (Minor) with Third Class dated 15th December, not the one the accused presented which was dated 6th June, 2014.
During interrogation, Sylvia admitted that it was Richmond Ampah (8th Accused) an Information Technology Attendant at Access E-Solutions at Dansoman, who designed the forged certificate for her at a fee.
Ms. Brenda Bannerman, who was also employed on January 17, 2017, as an Assistant Contract Centre Officer II at the House, Accra, presented a forged Certificate of Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with Theatre Arts (Second Class Honours-Lower Division) from the University of Ghana, Legon numbered 00054504, to SSNIT for employment.
By Castro Zangina-Tong
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