Retired Fire Officer Faces Court Over Alleged Recruitment Scam

Retired Fire Officer in Court Over Alleged Recruitment Scam

A 60-year-old retired Fire Officer has been granted GH¢350,000 bail by an Accra Circuit Court over an alleged GH¢303,200 enlistment scam involving 60 applicants. Thomas Dorkenu, a former member of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), appeared before the court for the second time, pleading not guilty to a charge of defrauding by false pretences.

Bail Application and Prosecution Objection

The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye, opposed the application for bail and requested an additional two weeks to complete the investigation. The prosecution argued that investigations were at an advanced stage and that Dorkenu, having served in the GNFS for many years, knew that 60 protocol slots could not be allocated to one person.

Dorkenu's defence counsel, however, urged the court to grant bail, saying Dorkenu had been in Police custody since his arrest on July 28, 2026. The counsel described the facts presented by the prosecution as "fanciful and full of allegations" and disputed the assertion that Dorkenu lived at Ashongman Estates.

Allegations Against Dorkenu

The prosecution said the complainant was the Chief Fire Officer of the GNFS, while Dorkenu resided at Ashongman Estates. It said one of the alleged victims, Eyram Davordzi-Banini, a midwife resident in Akatsi, was approached by Dorkenu on February 9, 2026. Dorkenu allegedly told Eyram that he had secured enlistment slots from the complainant and asked her to mobilise prospective applicants for recruitment into the GNFS.

Investigation and Charges

The prosecution said Eyram mobilised 60 applicants and, on their behalf, paid GH¢303,200 to Dorkenu. The amount was allegedly represented as the approved fee for protocol charges fixed by the complainant. Dorkenu subsequently issued purported appointment letters to the applicants, directing them to report for training on July 23, 2026.

When the applicants reported to the GNFS Training School, however, they were informed that the appointment letters were fake. The applicants subsequently went to the office of the Chief Fire Officer to complain, where it emerged that they had allegedly been defrauded.

Next Steps in the Case

The case was adjourned to September 24, 2026. The prosecution said Dorkenu was arrested by the complainant and handed over to the Police together with a Techno Spark C30 smartphone believed to have been used in the alleged offence. A caution statement was obtained from Dorkenu in the presence of an independent witness, during which he admitted the offence and claimed that he was also a victim of a scam scheme allegedly involving a Telecel number.

The prosecution said the phone had been forwarded for digital forensic examination, while the Police were pursuing the user of the Telecel number. The case against Dorkenu is ongoing, with the court's next decision expected to shed more light on the alleged scam and its consequences for the victims.

Source: JOY