The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and National Investigations Bureau have arrested a man accused of impersonating government officials and defrauding desperate scholarship seekers out of millions of cedis through fake social media accounts and counterfeit certificates.
Emmanuel Ofori was apprehended in Tema following an intelligence led operation triggered by a formal complaint from the Secretariat’s Registrar, Alex Kwaku Asafo Agyei, who sought NIB assistance to shut down what he described as a longstanding scam. The suspect allegedly operated multiple fake accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, mimicking the Scholarship Secretariat’s branding and communication style to trick victims into believing they’d won government funded educational awards.
Through these fraudulent platforms, Ofori allegedly lured victims with promises of scholarship awards, extorted money from them, and issued fake scholarship certificates bearing forged signatures of the Registrar. The certificates looked convincing enough to fool recipients who didn’t know how to verify their authenticity, creating false hope for students desperate to fund their education.
The arrest comes amid broader scrutiny of the Scholarship Secretariat itself. Six officials from the institution were arrested by NIB several weeks ago as part of an ongoing audit into operations, though those individuals were later granted bail pending further investigations. Authorities haven’t disclosed what alleged irregularities prompted those internal arrests, but they followed concerns raised by Asafo Agyei after his appointment as Registrar in February 2025 about accountability gaps under previous leadership.
That context makes Ofori’s alleged external fraud particularly brazen. While the Secretariat grapples with internal governance questions, someone was simultaneously exploiting its reputation to steal from the public. The parallel scandals underscore systemic vulnerabilities in how Ghana’s scholarship system operates and communicates with applicants, creating opportunities for both insider irregularities and outside impersonation.
Ofori is scheduled to appear before court on Monday, November 3, according to sources familiar with the case. The charges he’ll face weren’t specified, but likely include fraud, impersonation of public officials, and forgery. Penalties for such offenses in Ghana can range from fines to several years imprisonment depending on the amounts involved and number of victims affected.
Asafo Agyei confirmed the arrest when contacted, commending NIB for swift action and urging anyone who fell victim to the scheme to come forward. He encouraged victims to contact the Secretariat through 0302907058 or 0302907051 to submit hard evidence that could aid prosecution. That appeal suggests investigators believe Ofori operated for some time and potentially defrauded many people beyond those who’ve already reported losses.
The Registrar emphasized that the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat’s awards are strictly not for sale and are distributed through transparent, verifiable procedures. He urged prospective applicants to remain vigilant and rely only on official communication channels, warning people to be wary of individuals or platforms that promise scholarships in exchange for money.
That warning addresses a persistent problem in Ghana’s education sector, where fraudsters regularly exploit information asymmetries and desperate families’ willingness to pay for educational opportunities. Scholarship scams follow predictable patterns: impersonators contact potential victims claiming they’ve been selected for awards, then demand upfront fees for processing, certificates, or travel arrangements. Once payments are made, the fraudsters disappear or string victims along with excuses until they realize they’ve been duped.
The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat was established to provide financial support to brilliant but needy students and reward academic excellence through merit based selection. It administers both local scholarships for study within Ghana and foreign scholarships for students pursuing education abroad. The institution operates under the Ministry of Education and processes thousands of applications annually for various award categories including undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional development programmes.
Legitimate scholarship awards from the Secretariat never require upfront payments from recipients. The institution covers tuition fees, stipends, and other approved costs directly through official channels rather than requesting money from students. Any communication asking applicants to pay processing fees, certificate charges, or administrative costs signals a scam, not a genuine government scholarship offer.
Social media platforms have made impersonation easier by allowing anyone to create accounts that superficially resemble official institutions. Fake accounts copy logos, use similar names with slight variations, and post content mimicking legitimate announcements. Without verification badges or direct knowledge of official handles, users struggle to distinguish authentic accounts from imposters, especially when fraudsters invest effort in making their deception convincing.
The Scholarship Secretariat maintains official presence on social media platforms, but many Ghanaians don’t know the verified account names or how to confirm authenticity. That knowledge gap creates space for scammers like Ofori allegedly was. Educational campaigns about how to identify legitimate scholarship communications could reduce victimization, though reaching all potential targets remains challenging when many people access information through informal channels rather than official sources.
The investigation into Ofori’s alleged activities continues, with NIB presumably working to identify victims, trace financial transactions, and build a prosecutable case. Whether investigators can recover any stolen funds remains uncertain, since fraudsters typically move money quickly through difficult to trace channels. Even if prosecutors secure convictions, victims often struggle to get restitution because perpetrators have already spent or hidden proceeds.
The case illustrates broader challenges in combating online fraud in Ghana, where rapid digital adoption has outpaced regulatory frameworks and public awareness about cyber scams. Police and intelligence agencies are increasingly addressing internet based crimes, but resource constraints and technical limitations hamper investigations. Many fraud cases go unreported because victims feel embarrassed about being deceived or doubt that authorities can effectively pursue justice.
For the Scholarship Secretariat, the arrest offers vindication that it’s taking fraud seriously and working with law enforcement to protect the public. But it also highlights reputation vulnerabilities when impersonators can successfully exploit the institution’s name to steal from desperate families. Beyond prosecuting individual fraudsters, the Secretariat may need systemic improvements in how it communicates with applicants, verifies awards, and helps the public distinguish legitimate opportunities from scams.
The Monday court appearance will determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to formally charge Ofori and whether he’ll be granted bail or remanded in custody pending trial. Given the alleged scale of the fraud and concerns about him potentially interfering with witnesses or fleeing, prosecutors may oppose bail. The outcome will set the stage for what could become a significant fraud prosecution if evidence supports the allegations against him.
