The Ghana Police Service has arrested a man alleged to have posed as a pastor on social media to deceive women into fraudulent relationships, blackmail them with intimate images and swindle them of thousands of dollars through false business schemes.
The suspect, Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng, is accused of using Instagram to conduct fake online church services, where he allegedly targeted women by claiming that God had revealed they were destined to become his wives.
According to the Police, the suspect allegedly gained the confidence of his victims by meeting their families and presenting them with promise rings to reinforce his claims of marriage.
Preliminary investigations indicate that after winning the trust of the women, Kwarteng allegedly obtained intimate images from some of them and later used the images to extort money through blackmail.
Police further alleged that the suspect lured some of the victims into a fictitious car tyre importation business, convincing them to invest thousands of dollars for the purported shipment and clearance of containers of tyres. After collecting the money, he allegedly became unreachable.
Investigators also revealed that Kwarteng’s wife, Sally Akosua Amoasah, allegedly participated in the scheme by receiving intimate images of some victims and using them to threaten the women.
So far, seven victims have formally lodged complaints with the Police, with investigations indicating that the alleged offences date back to 2021. The Police, however, believe there could be more victims and have appealed to anyone who may have encountered similar experiences involving the suspect to report to the nearest Police station to assist ongoing investigations.
The two suspects were arraigned before Accra Circuit Court 1 on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, namely defrauding by false pretences, defrauding by false pretences and non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The court remanded Nana Yaw Bonsu Kwarteng into Police custody to reappear on August 6, 2026, while Sally Akosua Amoasah was granted bail pending further proceedings.
The Ghana Police Service said investigations are ongoing as it continues to receive complaints from other possible victims.
The Police have 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.
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