The Ghana Police Service has arrested three people for allegedly impersonating the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, on social media as part of a wider cybercrime crackdown.
The suspects were picked up by the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team after intelligence-led investigations into online impersonation and fraud. They have been identified as Gideon Awudi, 25; Edem Soku, 33; and Judith Soku, 31.
Police say the suspects allegedly created and operated fake social media accounts bearing the names of the Speaker of Parliament, the IGP, and other well-known personalities. Through these accounts, they are believed to have targeted unsuspecting members of the public in attempts to defraud them using various online schemes.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly involved in several forms of cyber-related fraud, including mobile money fraud, credit card fraud, airtime sale fraud, and online sales scams carried out across multiple social media platforms. Victims were reportedly deceived with false promises and misleading offers, resulting in financial losses.
The arrests were made at Sogakope and Dabala in the Volta Region following a sustained operation that spanned Sogakope, Dzodze, and Penyi. Police say the operation was based on gathered intelligence and close monitoring of the suspects’ online activities over a period of time.
All three suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with ongoing investigations. The Ghana Police Service says further updates will be provided as investigations continue and has reaffirmed its commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting the public from online fraud.
Police have also urged the public to exercise caution when engaging with social media accounts claiming to belong to public officials and to report any suspicious online activity to the appropriate authorities.
