The Scholarship Secretariat (SCHOLSEC), in collaboration with the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), has arrested a man, Emmanuel Ofori, for allegedly defrauding Ghanaians through a fake government scholarship scheme.

Reports indicate that Ofori created multiple social media accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, impersonating the official Scholarship Secretariat.

Using these accounts, he reportedly promised victims government-sponsored scholarships in exchange for money and even issued counterfeit certificates bearing forged signatures of the Secretariat’s Registrar.

Ofori was apprehended in Tema following an intelligence-led operation after the Registrar, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, lodged a formal complaint with the NIB. The suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday to face charges of fraud and impersonation.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Asafo-Agyei praised the NIB for its swift action and called on potential victims to assist with the investigation.

“We encourage anyone who may have fallen victim to this fraudulent scheme to contact the Secretariat on 0302907058 or 0302907051 and provide any evidence to support the prosecution,” he said.

He emphasised that the Secretariat does not charge fees for scholarships, and all awards are based on transparent and verifiable processes.

“I urge the public to remain vigilant and rely only on the Secretariat’s official communication channels. Be wary of individuals or online platforms promising scholarships for money,” he cautioned.

The Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, established to support brilliant but financially constrained students, continues to warn against fraudulent intermediaries and fake accounts.

This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on online scams targeting scholarship applicants.