Suspect granted bail for allegedly selling GES teacher recruitment forms totalling GHS 580,000

A 30-year-old technician, Ibrahim Kofi Sessah, has been granted bail. The Accra High Court approved his bail in a case about selling job opportunities at the Ghana Education Service (GES).

Sessah pleaded not guilty to three charges of financial misconduct. He allegedly made GHS580,000 by selling GES teacher recruitment forms to 100 victims. His accomplice is Anthony Gyasi, an IT officer at GES.

The charges include using public office for personal profit, bribery, and money laundering. Sessah's bail was set at GHS6.5 million with two sureties. These sureties must be justified with property in Greater Accra.

During the hearing on May 5, the judge ordered the prosecution to file disclosure materials within 21 days. The case has been adjourned until June 3, 2025.

Background

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) began investigations on January 9, 2024. They looked into illegal sales of GES appointment letters to prospective teachers.

Criminal intelligence revealed that Sessah solicited money from applicants seeking jobs at GES. He acted with other officials from GES and targeted graduates from teacher training institutions.

Investigations showed that Sessah received large sums of money into his Zenith Bank account. This money came from applicants paying for GES appointment letters.

Between January 2022 and December 2023, he received a total of GHS6,042,600 in his account. He transferred this amount to Anthony Gyasi.

Evidence indicates that during this period, Sessah personally received GHS580,000 from 100 applicants for GM appointment letters under false pretenses. He was later arrested and charged with these offenses.