A BBC undercover investigation has uncovered a scam involving a Ghanaian recruitment agent, Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, who allegedly sold fake Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for non-existent jobs in the UK. The agent charged individuals thousands of pounds for care worker positions that turned out to be fraudulent.
Several people who paid Agyemang-Prempeh for job placements reported losing tens of thousands of pounds after discovering that the CoS documents they received were mere replicas of real certificates issued by legitimate care companies.
READ ALSO: University of Cape Coast Announces 2025 Sandwich Programmes - Details Here
Following a crackdown on fraudulent practices in the UK's care sector, Agyemang-Prempeh shifted his operations to the construction industry, which also permits the recruitment of foreign workers. Undercover footage captured by the BBC showed him offering CoS for construction jobs through a company he set up, for which he obtained a sponsorship licence from the UK Home Office.
When a journalist posing as a UK-based Ugandan businessman inquired about bringing Ugandan construction workers to the UK, Agyemang-Prempeh confirmed it was possible, but at a hefty price of £42,000 ($54,000) for three people. He also mentioned that recruitment agents were exploring other industries, stating, "People are now diverting to IT."
READ MORE: SO SAD! Stolen ECG Cables Uncovered in Scrap Site , Some Already Melted And Exported
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK government revoked over 470 sponsorship licences in the care sector, affecting the recruitment of more than 39,000 medical professionals and care workers from overseas. Many of these cases involved agents exploiting vulnerable job seekers, including Ghanaians, by promising them legitimate employment in exchange for exorbitant fees.
Agyemang-Prempeh later requested a down payment for the Certificates of Sponsorship, but the BBC did not proceed with the payment. Following the investigation, the UK Home Office revoked his sponsorship licence, cutting off his ability to recruit foreign workers.
CHECK THIS: Pressure Mounts On Attorney General to Reveal Br!bed MPs Involved In Covering Up The NSS Scandal
When confronted by the BBC, Agyemang-Prempeh defended himself, claiming that he had been deceived by other agents and had unknowingly sold fake CoS documents.
In response to the investigation, the UK Home Office issued a statement, saying, "We have taken robust new action against shameless employers who abuse the visa system... We will ban businesses who flout UK employment laws from sponsoring overseas workers."
The BBC has previously uncovered similar fraudulent visa schemes targeting job seekers from Ghana, Kerala (India), and international students in the UK seeking employment in the care sector. In November 2024, the UK government announced stricter measures to combat "rogue" employers exploiting the system.
Join our whatsapp platform for quick news Update: CLICK HERE