In a concerning development, a student has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities involving the use of an automated teller machine (ATM) card to withdraw substantial sums of money from customers’ accounts. The accused, identified as Regan Kwesi Egbe Addo, also known as Morgan Addo, faces serious charges in connection with these incidents.
Allegations and Charges
Mr. Addo has been charged with two counts of stealing in two separate cases. He has, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. The prosecution alleges that Mr. Addo employed deceptive tactics to obtain access to ATM cards and subsequently withdrew funds from unsuspecting victims’ accounts.
The First Case
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, presented details of the first case. According to the allegations, on September 17, 2025, Mr. Addo posed as a staff member of GCB Bank at the Ministries ATM in Accra. He allegedly deceived a customer into following him to the Société Générale Ghana Bank Premier Towers branch. During this interaction, Mr. Addo reportedly stood behind the complainant while they entered their personal identification number (PIN). Subsequently, he requested to clean the chip of the ATM card, during which he allegedly swapped it with another card.
The court was informed that Mr. Addo then used the swapped card to withdraw GH¢14,949 from the complainant’s account at various locations across Accra, including the Kempinski Hotel and the Airport City Shell Fuel Station. These withdrawals were made without the complainant’s consent.
The Second Case
In a similar incident, Mr. Addo was accused of stealing GH¢9,900 from another customer’s account on December 23, 2025. The second complainant, a female GCB Bank customer and staff member of the Ministry of Fisheries, reported that Mr. Addo employed comparable tactics to gain access to her account and withdraw funds unlawfully.
The prosecution disclosed that this incident occurred at approximately 4:40 PM and was reported to the police at Ministries after the complainant learned of Mr. Addo’s arrest. Notably, Mr. Addo had been placed on a police wanted list for alleged ATM card thefts within the Accra Central Division prior to his apprehension.
Investigations and Evidence
Police investigations played a critical role in uncovering the alleged activities of Mr. Addo. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage retrieved from GCB Bank was instrumental in tracking the movements of both the complainants and the accused.
Court Proceedings and Bail
During proceedings at the Dansoman Circuit Court, Mr. Addo was admitted to bail pending further investigation and trial. The court directed him to appear for a case management conference scheduled for March 11, 2026. He is expected to attend with legal representation if available. Additionally, the prosecution was ordered to file its witness statements and disclosures ahead of the conference.
Conclusion
This case underscores the importance of vigilance when using ATM services and highlights the need for robust security measures to protect customers from fraudulent activities. As investigations continue and court proceedings unfold, it remains crucial for financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to collaborate effectively in addressing such crimes.
The allegations against Mr. Addo are serious, and if proven true, they will serve as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in criminal activities. As always, individuals are reminded to safeguard their personal information and exercise caution when interacting with strangers in financial settings.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
