Bismark Quaoo Yankey, a 47-year-old pastor, has recently appeared before an Accra Circuit Court in Ghana, facing charges related to visa fraud. In 2023, Yankey’s name was recommended to the complainants as someone who could assist them in traveling to the USA. The complainants met Yankey individually on different occasions, and he confirmed that he could secure the visas for them.
Yankey informed the complainants that they could travel to the USA within three weeks to three months, provided they made the necessary payments.
Yankey demanded GHC4,000 and $11,000 each as processing fees.
He obtained the following amounts from the complainants. One Mr. Benjamin Tetteh Mensah made payments of GHC2,800 and $8,084, Daniel Teye paid $9,500, Charity Lugah also paid GHC6,840 and $4,000. Stephen Egyir and Charles Annor made payments of $6,800 and GHC 4,120 respectively. The total amount collected by Yankey was GHC13,760 and $32,084.
After receiving the payments, Yankey went into hiding. The complainants’ efforts to locate him for refunds and document retrieval were unsuccessful.
On November 10, 2023, the complainants received information that Yankey was at his church premises, leading to his arrest.
The pastor Yankey is charged with five counts of defrauding by false pretenses.
He allegedly collected a total of $32,084 and GHC13,760 from five individuals under the pretext of securing United States of America Visas for them. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.The court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, granted him bail in the sum of GHC300,000 with three sureties.
