Banahene remanded for duping potential recruits
The Sunyani Circuit Court has remanded Akwasi Banahene in prison custody for his involvement in a fraudulent military enlistment.
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Also known as Reindorf Boamah, the accused succeeded in collecting a total of GH¢20,250 from four prospective military recruits from Twifo Praso in the Central Region after issuing them with enlistment letters on Ghana Armed Forces letterheads.
The four victims are William Kodzo Dapaah, James Akoetey, Philip Atali and Joseph Besse Candy Mawuenyega.
Banahene, who was arrested at his hideout at dawn at Abesim last week Wednesday, was put before the court the same day.
He is to reappear before the court on January 28, 2016.
Briefing
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the matter, the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Christopher Tawiah, explained that the police had information from the victims that Banahene approached them with the assurance that he could assist them to be enlisted in the military.
According to him, Banahene informed the victims that he had been authorised to recruit persons who were interested to join the military.
He said Banahene collected GH¢2,000 each from the four victims after they had expressed interest in joining the army.
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After taking the money, the accused made the complainants to accompany him to the Sunyani Municipal Hospital where he had arranged with a quack doctor to perform HIV and AIDS and Hepatitis B medical checks on them.
Banahene continued to demand more money from the prospective military recruits.
He managed to persuade them to attend a meeting at Burma Camp, Accra and succeeded in collecting other sums of money from each of them.
In all Banahene collected GH¢6,000 from Dapaa, GH¢6,250 from Akoetey, GH¢2,000 from Atali and GH¢6,000 from Mawuenyega.
Fake admission letters
According to Mr Tawiah, on a later date, the victims were issued with fake enlistment letters for training at the Fourth Battalion of Infantry.
The enlistment letters asked the victims to bring along student mattresses, pillows, blankets, cutlasses, bags, buckets, provisions in addition to pens and notebooks.
They were also directed to bring their original birth certificates, original result slips and original testimonials from their schools for inspection and national identity cards.
Advice
The arrest of Banahene comes few days after an ex-military man, Francis Kunlen, was arrested by the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command for duping potential police recruits in the region.
The Public Affairs Department of the command has, therefore, advised the general public to always stick to the general information in the newspapers, especially the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times, and not individuals for enlistment into any of the security agencies.
Writer’s email: nanadu63@gmail.com/emmanuel.gyamerah@graphic.com.gh