Accra: Staff at the Oyarifa branch of Fidelity Bank Ghana in Accra were left surprised when an unemployed graduate returned GHS4,000 he found at the bank's ATM. On Monday, April 27, 2026, Emmanuel Appiah Boateng, who has been unemployed for nine months, discovered the money while attempting to withdraw funds using his wife's card to meet urgent family needs.
According to Ghana Web, the incident unfolded after Emmanuel faced a failed transaction at a nearby ATM, which was out of service. He then proceeded to try another machine in Oyarifa, where he encountered the unexpected sum of money left in the ATM tray. Despite financial challenges and the overwhelming temptation, Emmanuel chose to report the incident by immediately calling the Fidelity helpline.
Emmanuel, a father of four with a master's degree in cybersecurity, a bachelor's degree in information technology, and a certification in project management, followed the bank's instructions and safeguarded the money over the weekend. On Monday, April 26, 2026, he returned to the bank and handed over the full amount to staff to assist in tracing the rightful owner.
The branch manager praised Emmanuel's act of honesty, noting its significance amid rising living costs. Emmanuel, an alumnus of Opoku Ware School, shared his experience with his church community, the Faith Life Family Assemblies of God at Oyarifa Gravel Pit, highlighting the moral test he faced and his commitment to his values.