Unemployed Man Remanded for Allegedly Swindling Footballer of Nearly GH¢400,000 with False Promises of French Team Placement
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded 51-year-old Ernest Agyeman Prempeh into police custody following his appearance on charges of defrauding a footballer of a substantial sum of GH¢395,250 under the guise of securing him a professional football contract in France. Prempeh, who is unemployed, has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court, presided over by relieving judge Lawerncia Awurabena Darkowaa, has scheduled his next appearance for June 23, 2025.
According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Teye Okuffo, the complainant, Richard Adomako, is a footballer residing in Koforidua. The accused, Ernest Agyemang Prempeh, a resident of Tema Community 22, allegedly approached Adomako in 2023, falsely representing himself as a football agent. Prempeh claimed he possessed the necessary connections within the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to secure Adomako a spot on a team in France.
Based on these compelling misrepresentations, Prempeh demanded and received a staggering GH¢395,250 in cash, along with Adomako’s Ghanaian passport, ostensibly to facilitate the purported transfer process.
However, once in possession of the money and passport, Prempeh reportedly failed to uphold his end of the agreement. Despite numerous attempts by Adomako to recover his funds and passport, all efforts proved futile, leading him to file a report with the police.
Investigations swiftly ensued, leading to Prempeh’s arrest. During police interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to the offense and even pleaded for time to refund the money and return the passport. However, he failed to do so.
Further investigations uncovered that Prempeh was neither a legitimate football agent nor did he possess any genuine connections within the Ghana Football Association, as he had falsely claimed. Instead, it was revealed that the significant sum collected from the aspiring footballer was used for Prempeh’s personal gain, rather than for its stated purpose.
Following the investigation, Prempeh was charged and initially granted police enquiry bail with directives to report for further proceedings. Crucially, he failed to comply with these directives and repeatedly ignored calls from the prosecution. This necessitated contacting his surety, who was instructed to ensure Prempeh’s appearance before Circuit Court 3 in Accra on May 7, 2025, for his plea to be taken.
On the scheduled court date, Prempeh was notably absent, though his surety was present. The surety informed the court that he had lost all communication with Prempeh since executing the bail bond and that the accused had left his place of abode. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for Prempeh’s arrest, and the case was adjourned to June 3, 2025.
Acting on intelligence, authorities successfully apprehended Ernest Agyeman Prempeh at his hideout in Osu on June 12, 2025, bringing him back before the court to face the charges.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the prevalent dangers faced by aspiring young footballers in Ghana and across Africa, who are often vulnerable to fraudulent schemes by individuals posing as legitimate agents promising life-changing opportunities abroad. Authorities continue to urge vigilance and thorough verification of any such offers within the sports industry.
