Recruitment Scandal Hits GES
…Successful Applicants Asked to Pay GH¢18,000 for Appointment Letters; Two Arrested
A recruitment scandal has hit the Ghana Education Service (GES) following the emergence of an alleged syndicate, demanding as much as GH¢18,000 from successful applicants before releasing their appointment letters.
The development has raised concerns over how official appointment letters issued by the GES, found their way into the hands of unauthorised middlemen, popularly known as “Goro Boys,” who are demanding various sums of money from successful applicants.
Two persons, have so far been arrested by personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in connection with the scheme and are assisting with investigations.
The suspects were arrested last Friday, August 21, at Teshie-Nungua in Accra, following what sources described as commendable efforts by the Greater Accra Regional Director of the GES, Hajia Katumi Natogmah Attah.
They were allegedly found in possession of certified copies of appointment letters belonging to some successful applicants in the ongoing GES recruitment exercise.
“Big Man” At GES
It remains unclear, how the official appointment letters, issued from the GES headquarters and signed by the Director-General, came into the possession of the suspects, who are not employees of the Service.
THE ARCHIVES, gathered that the suspects during interrogation claimed the documents had been handed to them by an alleged “big man” at the GES headquarters. However, they reportedly declined to disclose the identity of the individual.
The syndicate is said to have targeted successful applicants who were awaiting their appointment letters after completing the recruitment process.
According to sources, some applicants were contacted and informed that they would have to pay substantial sums of money to secure the release of their appointment letters.
The development has raised suspicions that the alleged syndicate may have involved insiders at the GES headquarters with access to official recruitment records and documents.
It remains unclear whether the CID has identified or invited any GES official for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
Key Suspect
Meanwhile, one Joseph Akurugu, a teacher at one of the senior high schools (SHSs), has been identified as the coordinator of the syndicate.
According to sources, Mr Akurugu is alleged to have been contacting successful applicants and demanding payment in exchange for their appointment letters.
His mobile phone has since been switched off, after the arrest of the two suspects, whom he allegedly sent to receive the money on his behalf.
It was also unclear at press time, whether the suspects had been arraigned before a court or remained in police custody.
The development is expected to trigger further scrutiny of the ongoing GES recruitment exercise and the possible involvement of insiders in the alleged extortion scheme.
Authorities are, therefore, expected to intensify investigations to identify all persons allegedly involved, establish how the official appointment letters were obtained and determine whether any insider within the Service facilitated the scheme.
