PHOTO: Inusah Yakubu
A sophisticated recruitment scam targeting desperate job seekers has been uncovered, with the alleged masterminds, Inusah Yakubu and Daniel Nuku Kove, now evading capture. The scheme, which preyed on those seeking employment in the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), promised placements in exchange for hefty sums, leaving victims financially devastated.
The duo reportedly posed as well-connected insiders within the former NPP administration, assuring applicants that they had secured “protocol slots” in the GNFS. Victims were coerced into paying between GH₵12,000 and GH₵15,350 for recruitment, with additional fees later demanded for “approval,” “certificate verification,” and other fraudulent administrative charges.
How the Fraud Operated
Yakubu and Kove allegedly ran a well-orchestrated operation, issuing counterfeit GNFS receipts and sending official-looking emails to reinforce the illusion of legitimacy. Their messages, designed to instil confidence in applicants, contained misleading assurances that their recruitment was guaranteed.
One such message read:
📩 “Your appointment letter has been approved. You are to make a payment of GH₵3,800 as an approval fee as soon as possible for the recruitment committee to process your training schedule.”
Another falsely demanded:
📩 “All protocol applicants must make a payment of GH₵2,150.00 for documentation and educational certificate verification. Failure to comply will result in termination of appointment.”
The Unraveling of the Scam
Despite the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections, the fraudsters continued convincing victims that their recruitment was secure, instructing them to report for training at the James Town Fire Training Centre in Accra on January 15, 2025. However, when hopeful recruits arrived, they found no training sessions, no jobs—only the grim realization that they had been scammed.
One victim described the moment of discovery:
“I went to James Town, spoke to a Fire Officer at the entrance, and she said recruits had been around since November 15, 2024, looking for training that never existed.”
Fraudsters Vanish, Victims Seek Justice
With their operation exposed, Yakubu and Kove have reportedly gone into hiding, leaving dozens of victims without recourse. Efforts to recover the stolen funds have been futile, as their contacts have been severed, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
This latest scandal has reignited concerns about the integrity of Ghana’s security service recruitment process. The lack of transparency and accountability has created fertile ground for fraudulent schemes, raising questions about oversight and regulatory enforcement.
As victims demand justice, pressure is mounting on law enforcement agencies to apprehend the culprits and prevent similar scams from exploiting vulnerable job seekers in the future. Whether action will be taken, however, remains to be seen.
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