Ward assistant arraigned over alleged GH¢675,000 GAF recruitment scam

A 41-year-old ward assistant, Patience Mbaye, has been arraigned before an Accra court over her alleged involvement in a recruitment scam linked to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Mbaye is accused of collecting GH¢675,000 from 26 individuals after allegedly promising to secure their enlistment into the military.

According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Frank Morgan Dorvi, Mbaye is alleged to have acted together with former Senior Warrant Officer Jeffery Naboung, who is currently on the run.

The prosecution further alleged that Naboung separately collected GH¢1,005,000 from 47 people under the same recruitment scheme.

The pair have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime and three counts of defrauding by false pretences.

Mbaye pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court granted her GH¢100,000 bail with three justified sureties, one of whom must be a public servant. She was also directed to report to the case investigator every Wednesday and Friday.

The case has been adjourned to July 27, 2026.

The prosecution identified the complainants as Fatima Adam, a Prisons Officer, and Abdul Malik Ali, an okada rider.

According to prosecutors, Ali met Mbaye between 2023 and 2024, during which she allegedly claimed she had connections that could facilitate recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces.

Ali later informed his sister about the opportunity, while Fatima also became interested and contacted Mbaye to verify the claims.

The prosecution said Mbaye assured Fatima that she and Naboung had successfully helped several people gain entry into the military.

Investigators alleged that Mbaye instructed Ali to deposit GH¢25,000 into a GCB Bank account belonging to Naboung.

The prosecution said the two suspects received a total of GH¢1.68 million through their respective GCB Bank accounts from individuals seeking military recruitment.

However, they allegedly failed to secure the promised enlistments and did not refund the money despite repeated demands from the victims.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to investigations and Mbaye’s prosecution, while efforts continue to locate Naboung.

Source: GNA