A 41-year-old ward assistant has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court over her alleged involvement in a fraudulent Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment scheme that reportedly defrauded 73 victims of more than GH¢1.68 million.
The accused, Patience Mbaye, is alleged to have conspired with former Senior Warrant Officer Jeffery Naboung, who is currently on the run, to collect money from individuals under the false promise of securing their enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces.
According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Frank Morgan Dorvi, Mbaye allegedly received GH¢675,000 from 26 victims, while her alleged accomplice collected GH¢1,005,000 from 47 others, bringing the total amount involved to GH¢1,680,000.
The two have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime and three counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Mbaye pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court granted her bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three justified sureties, one of whom must be a public servant. She was also ordered to report to the case investigator every Wednesday and Friday.
The case has been adjourned to July 27, 2026.
How the alleged scam unfolded
The prosecution identified the complainants as Fatima Adam and Abdul Malik Ali, a Prisons Officer and an okada rider, respectively.
The court heard that between 2023 and 2024, Ali met Mbaye, who allegedly claimed she had connections within the Ghana Armed Forces and could facilitate the recruitment of interested applicants.
Ali subsequently informed his sister about the opportunity, while Fatima Adam also became interested after hearing about the alleged recruitment arrangement.
According to the prosecution, Fatima contacted Mbaye by telephone to verify the claims, and Mbaye allegedly assured her that she and Naboung had successfully assisted several people to gain entry into the military.
Mbaye is said to have directed Ali to pay GH¢25,000 into a GCB Bank account provided by Naboung as part of the recruitment process.
Investigators allege that the suspects received payments through their respective GCB Bank accounts from dozens of applicants seeking enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces.
However, the promised recruitment never materialised, and despite repeated demands, the victims were allegedly not refunded.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to investigations and Mbaye’s arrest, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend her alleged accomplice, former Senior Warrant Officer Jeffery Naboung.
Source: Ghana News Agency (GNA)
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