Complainant weeps as court frees man on fraud charges

The acquittal of Wilberforce Francis Mensah, a steel bender, left a complainant in tears in an Adentan Circuit Court on Thursday.

The court presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam, at the end of Mensah’s trial, acquitted him on two charges of defrauding by false pretences.  

Mensah was arrested for obtaining GHC12,000 from Francisca Dosu and GHC11,350 from Sandra Tetteh under the pretext of recruiting them for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). 

However, upon hearing Mensah’s acquittal, Dosu burst into tears because she was unable to collect her money from her one-time partner.  

The court determined that the prosecution was unable to prove the accusations brought against Mensah, and that convicting him based on the evidence offered during the trial would be serious. 

It noted that the prosecution was unable to prove the charges since it did not offer any proof, such as documents or text messages, and that “the accused had love talks.”  

According to the court, Mensah had an amorous relationship with the two complainants and promised to get them into GIS despite knowing he was a steel bender. 

The court said the promise of Mensah could not be used to convict him because “in relationships, men give money and women also give money. The accused person is guilty of his behaviour, that is for taking advantage of the women.” 

Mensah, who had been in custody for over a year despite being offered bail by the court, said he would work and refund the money to the complainants. 

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Maxwell Lanyo, informed the court that the complainants, Dosu and Tetteh, live in Malejor, while Mensah resides in Michel Camp.  

According to the prosecution, Dosu became friends with Mensah in March 2023 and later began dating him.  

It said Mensah told Dosu that he had an Immigration Officer who had a position open at GIS. 

The prosecution said Mensah collected GHC12,000 from Francisca to give to the GIS officer, who was also friends with Dosu’s brother, Frank.  

Mensah avoided Dosu  after collecting the money from her.  

The prosecution said in April 2023, Mensah went to a restaurant and met the second complainant, Tetteh, and proposed to her. 

Tetteh accepted Mensah’s proposal and began a relationship with him. 

He then informed Tetteh about the opening in the GIS.  

She expressed interest and called her father in Adense Praso for GHC8,000 cash, to which she added GHC3,350. 

After collecting the money, Mensah went into hiding.  

On May 13, 2024, Dosu reported the matter to the police, and Mensah was arrested. 

The prosecution said Tetteh identified Mensah to police on June 2, 2023, and he admitted to collecting money from the two complainants in his caution statement.