The Ghana Police Service has arrested a self-acclaimed pastor, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, for allegedly orchestrating a romance scam in which women were defrauded through false promises of marriage, blackmail and other fraudulent schemes.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police said preliminary investigations indicate that Kwarteng posed as a pastor conducting online church services on Instagram, where he allegedly targeted women by claiming that God had revealed they were destined to become his wives.
According to the Police, the suspect gained the confidence of his victims by meeting their families and presenting them with promise rings to reinforce the alleged deception.
Investigators further allege that Kwarteng obtained intimate images from some of the women and later used the material to blackmail them into paying money.
The Police also accused him of luring victims into investing in a fictitious car tyre business. He allegedly collected thousands of dollars under the pretext of importing, shipping and clearing containers of tyres before becoming unreachable.
Further investigations revealed that Kwarteng’s wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, allegedly became involved in the scheme by receiving intimate images of some victims and threatening them. Police say she has also been implicated in the ongoing investigation.
So far, seven victims have officially reported the matter, with investigators indicating that the alleged offences date back to 2021. The Police added that they continue to receive complaints from other possible victims.
Kwarteng and Amoasah have been arraigned before Accra Circuit Court One on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretences, defrauding by false pretences, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The court remanded Kwarteng into Police custody to reappear on August 6, while Amoasah was granted bail.
The Ghana Police Service has appealed to anyone who may have experienced similar incidents involving the suspect to report to the nearest police station to assist with ongoing investigations.
