Teacher in court for allegedly defrauding nurse of GH¢90,000

A tutor, Elijah Phinehas Ayitey Okine, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for his alleged role in a GH¢90,000 visa fraud scheme.

Okine, 48, faces counts of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence. He is accused of promising to secure a Finland visa and work permit for a nurse, but failing to deliver. His alleged accomplice, Eugene Oppong, remains on the run.

Okine pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah. The court granted him bail of GH¢50,000 with two sureties, pending trial.

According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainant, Beatrice Yayra Cooper, a nurse then working in Saudi Arabia, was introduced to Okine in January 2024. He assured her he could process her Finland relocation within six months.

He allegedly demanded GH¢90,000 in total.

Cooper first paid GH¢2,000 for an “application form.”

On October 22, 2024, she was directed to deposit €4,500 (GH¢43,815) into an account at GT Bank.

The balance of GH¢44,278 was to cover travel to Nigeria for documentation, interviews, and biometrics.

Cooper reportedly undertook the Nigeria trip, but on returning to Ghana, she was unable to trace either suspect. Both had gone into hiding, leading her to report to the Regional CID in Accra.

Prosecutors revealed Okine was already in custody over a similar visa scam. During interrogation, he admitted receiving the money but claimed he had passed it to Oppong, whom he could not produce.

Okine has been formally charged under Sections 23(1) and 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The case has been adjourned to October 29, 2025.