Seven suspects have been arrested for allegedly circulating fraudulent electronic traffic violation notices purportedly issued by the Ghana Police Service, authorities announced at a press briefing at the National Police Headquarters in Accra.
According to the Police, the fake notices were sent to members of the public via electronic platforms, falsely informing recipients that they had committed traffic offences and directing them to click on embedded links to pay supposed fines.
Addressing the media on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, officials said the matter came to the attention of the Service about a week ago. The Police Intelligence and Cyber teams were immediately tasked to investigate. A public notice was subsequently issued to alert citizens that the messages were fraudulent and not from the Ghana Police Service.
Preliminary investigations revealed that funds collected from victims were routed through multiple mobile money numbers before being consolidated through a mobile money vendor, Martha Quarshie, based in Ada.
Acting on intelligence, a police team arrested Martha Quarshie, Peter Ofori McCarthy and Alfred Kofi Totimeh at Ada on February 23, 2026. During interrogation, Quarshie allegedly identified Prosper Otumfour, based in Winneba, as the individual who regularly sent her money for redistribution to other mobile money numbers and a bank account.
Police subsequently arrested Otumfour in Winneba on February 24. A search of his room led to the recovery of GH¢4,188 in cash, multiple SIM cards, mobile phones and laptop computers believed to be linked to the fraudulent scheme.
On February 25, Quarshie reportedly led investigators to the arrest of Robert Akplehe, 33, who is alleged to have connected her to Otumfour. Items retrieved from his room included a Dell laptop, two hard drives and a Samsung Galaxy A22 mobile phone.
Another suspect, Christian Akplehe, 32, a mobile money vendor, was also arrested. A search of his residence and shop led to the recovery of three keypad phones, two Samsung smartphones, a GCB debit card (GH-Link), a Ghanaian passport, 14 Telecel SIM cards, one MTN SIM card, an ADB E-Zwich card, a Ghana Card bearing the name Duku Rose, and GH¢6,790 in cash.
In a related development, Michael Edem Amemornu, 33, was arrested after he reportedly visited the Police Directorate to see Otumfour. Investigators identified him as a suspected member of the network and an alleged recipient of fraud proceeds through Telecel Cash transfers.
Police said investigations uncovered a layered scheme in which Otumfour allegedly registered Telecel Cash SIM cards in the names of family members and associates, including some of the suspects, while retaining control of the SIM cards to receive payments from victims. The funds were then transferred to Quarshie for further redistribution, a structure investigators believe was designed to obscure the money trail.
All seven suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations and are expected to be arraigned. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate who may still be at large.
Police also announced plans to introduce an automated traffic law enforcement programme, Traffitech-GH, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Insurance Commission, and the Ministry of Finance. The initiative, which will require amendments to road traffic regulations by Parliament, is expected to be rolled out in the coming months.
The Police Intelligence Directorate at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters was commended for what officials described as a swift and coordinated operation across Accra, Ada and Winneba.
The Ghana Police Service reiterated its commitment to combating fraud and cybercrime and urged the public to disregard unofficial electronic traffic notices not issued through approved channels.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
