In a significant development, the Wenchi District Court has ordered the remand of five individuals suspected to be members of a mobile money fraud syndicate. The suspects are currently in police custody over their alleged involvement in a GH¢130,000 fraud case within the Wenchi Municipality. The court, presided over by His Worship Issah Abdul Wahab, has charged the accused with conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence.
According to a statement issued by Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, the case was brought to light following a formal complaint lodged by a 54-year-old agriculturalist, Mr. Sylvester Declercq Mensah. The complainant, a resident of Boadan in the Wenchi Municipality, reported on April 24, 2025, that he had been defrauded of GH¢130,000 by unidentified individuals.
Acting promptly on the complaint, police investigations commenced and led to the arrest of the suspects on January 18, 2026. The individuals apprehended have been identified as Edward Amuzu, also known as Kwame Tina (26); Salifu Nurudeen, alias El-man (25); John Pobi, known as Father (37); Godfred Acquah, also referred to as Kofi Biggs or Agabus (25); and Maxwell Fosu Kyei (31). Authorities have confirmed that one additional suspect remains at large and efforts are underway to locate and apprehend them.
The suspects were reportedly arrested at various locations, including Accra, Kasoa, Winneba, and Assin Fosu. It is believed that they had gone into hiding following their alleged involvement in the fraudulent activities. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the group functioned as part of a coordinated syndicate targeting unsuspecting mobile money users across multiple regions in Ghana.
The modus operandi of the syndicate involved contacting victims under false pretences. The suspects would claim that money had been mistakenly transferred into the victims’ mobile money accounts and then request assistance in reversing the transaction. This deceptive tactic reportedly enabled the syndicate to siphon significant sums of money from their victims over time.
Further investigations by law enforcement have uncovered that this fraudulent network has been operational for almost five years. During this period, it is suspected that numerous individuals have fallen prey to their schemes, resulting in substantial financial losses.
The arrest of these suspects marks an important step in dismantling the operations of such criminal syndicates and protecting the public from fraudulent activities. The police have assured citizens that they are committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and have urged the public to remain vigilant against similar scams.
As investigations continue, the authorities are calling on anyone with information related to the case or the whereabouts of the fugitive suspect to come forward and assist law enforcement in their efforts to combat such criminal activities.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of exercising caution when dealing with unsolicited communications regarding financial transactions. The public is advised to verify claims independently and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities immediately.
The Wenchi District Court will reconvene at a later date to hear further proceedings in this case. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies remain resolute in their mission to ensure justice is served and to safeguard citizens from falling victim to such schemes in the future.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
