UG lecturer, students involved in bed allocation scandal discharged by court

A courtroom chapter has closed for two students and a senior lecturer of the University of Ghana, Legon, who were facing charges of defrauding their fellow students in a GH₵106,800 accommodation scam.

On Tuesday, the Accra Circuit Court officially discharged Joseph Appiah (25), Stephen Nimako Ansong (24), and Dr. Kwadwo Owusu Ayeh (58), after the University—the very institution that filed the complaint—chose to withdraw the case.

The university’s decision came after the full amount involved in the alleged fraud was paid back to the police by the student defendants. Following this development, the court, presided over by Judge Isaac Addo, struck out the charges and ordered that the money be returned to the 32 student victims.

Initially, the three had been jointly accused of conspiracy and multiple counts of defrauding by false pretences. Appiah and Ansong also faced additional charges of abetment of corruption, while Dr. Ayeh was charged with corruption as a public officer. All pleaded not guilty and were granted bail at GH¢100,000 each.

According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, the complaint originated from Professor Gordon Awandare, a Pro Vice Chancellor at UG. He alleged that the trio had been extorting money from students under the guise of offering them rooms at the Dr. Hilla Liman Hall.

The scam came to light after an internal petition prompted police investigations in October 2023. Detectives found that Appiah and Ansong had collected between GH¢2,000 and GH¢2,500 from 32 students with false promises of accommodation. It later emerged the operation had the involvement of Dr. Ayeh, then a senior hall tutor, who reportedly partnered with the students to locate and exploit those in need of on-campus housing.

Though one of the students, Ansong, initially returned GH¢30,000, the full sum was eventually repaid, prompting the university to drop its criminal pursuit.