A 48-year-old businessman has appeared before the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly collecting $15,500 and GH¢204,220 from a woman and her three children under the pretext of securing them Canadian and United States visas. 

Joseph Hammond, a travel agent based at James Town, Accra, is said to have collected the money and four passports from the complainant, Veronica Crentsil, in 2022, but failed to deliver the visas and subsequently went into hiding. 

Hammond has been charged with three counts of defrauding by false pretences, forging travel documents, and two counts of possessing forged documents.  

He pleaded not guilty. 

The court, presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, admitted him to bail in the sum of GHC500,000 with four sureties, two of whom must justify with title deeds.  

The case was adjourned to December 9, 2025. 

Chief Inspector Clemence Takyi, who held brief for the substantive prosecutor, told the court that the complainant is a businesswoman in Accra. 

He said Hammond introduced himself as a travel agent capable of securing visas abroad for prospective travellers. 

Prosecution said Hammond directed the complainant to pay the equivalent visa processing fees into a GCB Bank account belonging to J’HAMM’s Business Consultancy, his business entity. 

After receiving the money, Hammond allegedly failed to honour his promise and went into hiding.  

Several attempts by the complainant to retrieve the money or the passports proved unsuccessful. 

He was eventually arrested on October 29, 2025, at his hideout at Adedenkpo near James Town.  

Investigations revealed that Hammond had allegedly swindled other victims, mostly women, under similar pretences. 

Prosecution said that during the arrest, the accused attempted to escape using a ladder positioned behind his house. A search of  

Prosec his arrest, Hammond attempted to escape by using a ladder, which he had kept behind his house as an escape route anytime he was pursued by the Police. 

A search of Hammond’s room revealed nine passports, including that of the complainant and her children.