The former Constituency Deputy Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Awutu Senya West Constituency, Kojo Opei, has been arrested for allegedly extorting money from individuals under the pretense of recruiting them into various security agencies.
According to reports, the 50-year-old NPP executive member extorted approximately 10 billion Ghana Cedis from over 60 individuals, promising to secure their positions in the police, military, fire, and prison services.
Some of the victims, who gathered at the Bawjiase Police Station after the suspect’s arrest, said they were there to demand a refund of their money.
Speaking to the media, one victim revealed that he had paid an initial GH¢7,000 to the suspect for his two children, who aspired to join the security services. The suspect had allegedly assured him that he worked at the Flagstaff House and had connections with dignitaries who could facilitate their recruitment.
“We are over 60 people he extorted money from, with the smallest amount being GH¢7,000. Some paid as much as GH¢50,000 or more,” the victim recounted.
Another victim shared: “I wanted to join the prison service, so someone recommended the suspect to me and my brother. We believed it would work because the person who referred him was already in the service. We paid a total of GH¢450,000, but later realized it was a scam because he kept demanding more money.”
The victims added that after collecting their money, the suspect travelled outside Ghana, making it difficult to reach him. “When we heard he had been arrested upon his return to Ghana, we rushed here to reclaim our money,” one victim stated.
