Four Ghanaian international students have been arrested in the United States for allegedly forging high school transcripts to gain admission to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The students; Otis Opoku, Evans Oppong, Cyrilstan Nomobon Sowah-Nai, and Henry Dabuo are facing charges of forgery and theft of services and are currently being held in Northampton County Jail on $100,000 bail each, according to court records.
The arrests stem from a criminal investigation launched by the Lehigh University Police Department (LUPD) after concerns were raised by the university’s Vice Provost of Admissions and Financial Aid, Dan Warner, regarding suspicious discrepancies in a transcript submitted by a fifth student, Jude Dabuo, Henry Dabuo’s older brother. The transcript, marked by unusual formatting and spelling errors, led to the rescission of Jude Dabuo’s admission. This discovery prompted further scrutiny into the credentials of other Ghanaian students at the university, eventually revealing falsified transcripts in the applications of Opoku, Oppong, Sowah-Nai, and Henry Dabuo.
Court documents show that the students received substantial financial aid packages as part of their enrollment at Lehigh. Otis Opoku, who has been enrolled at the university since 2022, was awarded $212,933 in aid, while Sowah-Nai and Dabuo, both starting in 2023, received $127,213 and $129,244, respectively.
Lehigh University’s student newspaper reports that LUPD Detective Lieutenant David Kokinda filed criminal complaints against Opoku, Sowah-Nai, and Dabuo on September 6, with Evans Oppong’s complaint still being processed. The four students were arraigned on September 9 and are awaiting preliminary hearings scheduled for September 24.
While the university and LUPD have not made official comments, the case has gained attention in the local community. A GoFundMe campaign, launched by friends of the students, has raised $9,075 towards legal defence, bail reduction, and commissary expenses, with a revised fundraising target of $30,925. According to the campaign, Opoku and Oppong had earned spots on Lehigh’s prestigious Dean’s List, which requires a GPA of 3.6 or higher.
The students remain in custody without legal representation, as the case draws significant scrutiny regarding admissions practices and fraud in international student recruitment.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah
