• Man loses job after being wrongly named as a wanted suspect
A young JHS graduate, Francis Asare, says he has been plunged into joblessness and emotional distress after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) allegedly wrongly published his photograph and identified him as a wanted person in a corruption-related case.
Francis claims the incident, which first surfaced on July 24, 2024, after his image was circulated online via Rainbow Radio, branded him as a fugitive linked to an OSP investigation he says he had no connection to.
The publication, he says, triggered immediate panic and public embarrassment, forcing him to report himself to the OSP to clear his name.
“Good morning, sir. My name is Asare Francis. On 24 July 2024, Rainbow Radio posted me with my picture on social media saying I am wanted by the Special Prosecutor. I was afraid, so I called my brother to take me there,” he said.
But instead of answers, Francis says he was informed at the OSP offices that he had been wrongly identified and that the error stemmed from inaccurate information allegedly supplied by Fidelity Bank Ghana.
By then, however, he says the damage had already been done.
Francis claims he lost his job as a direct result of the publication and has since been battling severe emotional distress, stigma, and reputational damage in his community.
“Because of that, I lost my job. At the same time, I am going through mental problems too. Please, I really need your help,” he said.
The case has sparked serious questions over how such a sensitive “wanted” notice could be published without proper verification, with critics warning that the incident points to a reckless breakdown in checks and accountability.
Legal observers say the matter could open the door for a possible lawsuit against the OSP and any institutions involved, particularly if it is established that the publication caused reputational harm, loss of employment and psychological distress.
Calls are now growing for the OSP to urgently address the matter, issue a public correction, and consider compensation for Francis over what campaigners describe as a damaging and avoidable error.
Francis is also appealing for justice and redress, insisting that his life has been unfairly disrupted and that he should not be left to bear the consequences of what he maintains was a mistaken identity with devastating effects.
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