“God Revealed You’re My Wife”: Ghana Police Arrest Fake Pastor Over Romance Scam

The Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspected romance scammer, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, for allegedly defrauding several women through false marriage promises and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, marking the latest in a series of high-profile cybercrime arrests in the country. The 35-year-old suspect was arraigned alongside his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, before the Accra Circuit Court 1 on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, with Kwarteng facing a further charge of non-consensual sharing of intimate images which the prosecution said would be tried separately at the High Court .

Preliminary investigations indicate that Kwarteng posed as a pastor conducting online church services on Instagram, where he targeted vulnerable women and claimed that God had revealed they were his future wives, a tactic designed to exploit the faith and trust of his victims. To gain their trust, he allegedly went as far as meeting their families and presenting them with promise rings to reinforce his claims of marriage, creating elaborate illusions of genuine romantic intent . Reports also suggest the suspect may have targeted victims in both Ghana and Nigeria, with allegations involving more than ten women, indicating a cross-border dimension to the fraudulent scheme .

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The suspect is also accused of obtaining intimate images from some victims and using them to blackmail them for money, leveraging their vulnerability and fear of exposure to extract financial payments . Additionally, he allegedly introduced some victims to a fake car tyre business, collecting thousands of dollars from them under the pretext of shipping and clearing containers of tyres, after which he became unreachable, leaving his victims financially devastated . Investigations further revealed that Kwarteng shared the intimate images of some victims with his wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, who is also accused of threatening the victims, demonstrating a coordinated effort to exploit the women .

Seven victims have so far reported the matter to the Police, with investigations indicating that the alleged offences date back to 2021, suggesting the suspect operated undetected for several years . The prosecution told the court that the complainants include an ambassador and businesswomen, with reported losses including US$33,000, US$4,000, GHS25,000, GHS22,000, and other foreign currencies, highlighting the significant financial harm caused by the scheme . Police believe there could be more victims who have not yet come forward and have appealed to anyone who may have experienced similar incidents involving the suspect to report to the nearest Police station .

The court remanded Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng into Police custody to reappear on August 6, 2026, while Sally Akosua Amoasah was granted bail of GHS100,000 with two sureties and ordered to report to investigators every Monday and Friday, conditions designed to ensure her availability for ongoing investigations . The prosecution also informed the court that Kwarteng is wanted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in connection with separate investigations, suggesting the suspect may have been involved in other criminal activities beyond the romance fraud allegations . A video also surfaced on social media showing Kwarteng on a date with one of his alleged victims, discussing engagement ring sizes, further corroborating the allegations against him and providing visual evidence of his deceptive tactics .

The Ghana Police Service continues to receive complaints from other possible victims and has urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with individuals on social media who make extraordinary claims or solicit money for business ventures, particularly where relationships are built primarily through online interactions . Police have also advised the public to verify the identities and backgrounds of individuals they meet online, especially those who request financial assistance or intimate images .

“God Revealed You’re My Wife”: Ghana Police Arrest Fake Pastor Over Romance Scam

Gunmen Abduct INEC Staff in Anambra, Demand N40m Ransom in Dual Attacks

Suspected gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State and demanded a N40 million ransom for her release, in an incident that has heightened security concerns along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area. The victim, identified as Christy Nkiru Okeke, was abducted at about 7:00 p.m. on July 24, with her husband later reporting the incident to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N40 million for her release. Security analyst Zagazola Makama first reported the abduction, noting that the circumstances surrounding her disappearance were not immediately clear, as the area has witnessed a series of security incidents in recent months that have left residents on edge.

The abduction occurred roughly an hour after a separate violent attack on the same road, raising questions about whether both incidents were carried out by the same criminal gang operating within the axis. A businessman identified as Emmanuel Nwobodo was returning home from Oba Ofemili at approximately 5:45 p.m. when four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz near Ebenebe Community Secondary School. Despite coming under heavy gunfire, Nwobodo managed to drive away from the scene before discovering he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee. His vehicle also suffered visible damage, with bullets reportedly affecting the radiator and the rear seat belt guard. He later stopped near a Catholic Church a few kilometres away, where he realised the extent of his injuries and was taken for medical attention, while security operatives commenced preliminary investigations into the attack.

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During the attack, one of Nwobodo’s employees, Tochukwu Afunenu, who was travelling with him and carrying his employer’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush. However, the situation took a suspicious turn when voice messages were allegedly sent from Afunenu’s phone claiming that he had been kidnapped and demanding a N40 million ransom. The messages reportedly raised suspicion among investigators, who are now examining the circumstances surrounding the claim to determine whether they genuinely originated from a kidnapping situation or formed part of a broader criminal plot connected to the attack. Security sources said efforts are ongoing to establish the authenticity of the messages, with the possibility that Afunenu may have staged his own disappearance or that his phone fell into the hands of the same criminal gang responsible for the earlier attacks.

Security operatives have since launched extensive operations to rescue the abducted INEC worker and apprehend those responsible for both attacks, with police authorities intensifying operations across the area. Personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Rapid Response Squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area, with extensive combing of surrounding bushes and remote locations while intelligence units continue tracking possible leads. A senior police source stated that authorities would not rest until the victim is safely recovered and the perpetrators face justice, while security operatives have also appealed to members of the public with useful information to come forward and assist ongoing investigations. Investigators are working to establish whether the two attacks, which occurred along the same road within a short period, were carried out by the same criminal gang, with authorities believing the coordinated nature of the attacks suggests a well-organised criminal network operating within the axis. Residents of Awka North have expressed growing unease about the frequency of such attacks along the corridor, urging stronger patrols, community vigilance and increased security presence along major roads linking communities within the local government.

Related Incident in Osun State

The abduction comes barely days after armed hoodlums attacked an INEC Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Osun State, carting away electoral materials in a separate incident that has raised concerns about the safety of electoral personnel and materials ahead of the upcoming governorship election. The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs ahead of the August 15 governorship election. According to police reports, about 10 suspected thugs stormed the distribution centre, fired several gunshots into the air, forced electoral officials to flee, and escaped with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards, leaving INEC officials and residents in shock.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the attack, stating that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the incident and ordered a comprehensive investigation. “Tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” the police spokesperson said, assuring residents that the command was committed to ensuring the security of electoral processes in the state. INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Dayo Oketola, confirmed that the Osun incident had been formally reported to the police and assured that it would not derail preparations for the governorship election. He also stated that a total of 4,427 BVAS devices had been configured for the election, including 664 backup units, which could handle any incidents before and during the poll, thereby ensuring that the election would proceed as scheduled despite the setback.

Gunmen Abduct INEC Staff in Anambra, Demand N40m Ransom in Dual Attacks