A Ghanaian recruitment agent, Nana Akwasi Agyemang-Prempeh, has been exposed for allegedly defrauding multiple individuals by selling counterfeit Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for non-existent jobs in the United Kingdom.
A BBC undercover investigation revealed that Agyemang-Prempeh charged unsuspecting job seekers thousands of pounds for fraudulent care worker positions in the UK.
Several individuals who paid for these job placements reported losing tens of thousands of pounds, only to later discover that the CoS documents they received were mere replicas of legitimate certificates issued by authorised care companies.
With increasing scrutiny on fraudulent practices within the UK’s care sector, Agyemang-Prempeh reportedly shifted his focus to the construction industry, which also permits the recruitment of foreign workers.
BBC undercover operation exposes fraud
Undercover footage captured by the BBC showed Agyemang-Prempeh offering CoS for construction jobs through a company he had established, which successfully obtained a sponsorship licence from the UK Home Office.
Posing as a UK-based Ugandan businessman, a BBC journalist inquired about recruiting Ugandan construction workers. Agyemang-Prempeh confirmed it was possible but at an exorbitant fee of £42,000 ($54,000) for three people.
“People are now diverting to IT,” he told the undercover reporter, explaining that recruitment agents were shifting their focus to other industries following the UK government’s tightening of regulations in the care sector.
UK government crackdown on visa fraud
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK government revoked more than 470 sponsorship licences in the care sector, impacting the recruitment of over 39,000 foreign medical professionals and care workers. Many of these cases involved fraudulent agents who exploited vulnerable job seekers, including Ghanaians, by promising legitimate employment opportunities in exchange for hefty fees.
Agyemang-Prempeh later requested a deposit payment for the CoS documents; however, the BBC did not proceed with the transaction.
Following the investigation, the UK Home Office revoked his sponsorship licence, effectively cutting off his ability to recruit foreign workers.
When confronted by the BBC, Agyemang-Prempeh defended his actions, claiming that he had been deceived by other agents and had unknowingly sold counterfeit CoS documents.
UK government responds to investigation
In response to the BBC’s findings, the UK Home Office issued a statement, asserting that it had taken “robust new action against shameless employers who abuse the visa system” and would “ban businesses who flout UK employment laws from sponsoring overseas workers.”
The BBC has previously exposed similar fraudulent visa schemes targeting job seekers from Ghana, Kerala (India), and international students in the UK seeking employment in the care sector.
Stricter immigration measures introduced
In November 2024, the UK government announced stricter regulations aimed at preventing rogue employers from exploiting the system.
Additionally, from 9 April 2025, care providers in England will be required to prioritise hiring international care workers already residing in the UK before recruiting from overseas.
The exposure of Agyemang-Prempeh’s fraudulent activities underscores the challenges faced by job seekers and the need for stricter regulation to prevent exploitation. As the UK government continues to enforce stringent immigration measures, job seekers must remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment agents offering deceptive opportunities.
