ACCRA, Ghana — Two teachers have been sentenced to six years in prison each by an Accra Circuit Court for forging official Judicial Service receipts. Lordfred Heward Mills, the primary perpetrator of the crime, was sentenced in absentia, while Lawrence Ansu Asante, the second accused, was taken into custody by the police.
According to Ghana News Agency, the court, presided over by Mrs. Afia Owusua Appiah, found them guilty of conspiracy to commit and actual uttering of forged documents. The complainant, Pastor Eric Ansah Agyei of Aburi, had given GHC3,500 to the accused (now convicts) to pay on behalf of Jeffery Wilson Ofori, involved in a legal case.
The prosecution revealed that Mills and Asante conspired to forge an official Judicial Service receipt instead of paying the amount to the court. They collaborated with Boakye Boateng, currently at large, to obtain the forged receipt. The fraudulent receipt was later submitted to the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Rita Asaah.
The forged receipt was presented in court on November 23, 2021, but was rejected, leading to the arrest of Mills and Asante. They were detained at the community 18 Police Station for further investigation. During questioning, Mills and Asante admitted to the offense, and it was disclosed that they shared the remaining GHC3, 000 between themselves after paying GHC500 for the forged receipt.