Accra, May 8, GNA – The Ghana Police Service has arrested 11 persons, including Nigerians, for allegedly using deep fake AI-generated video content to impersonate President John Dramani Mahama.
The 11 suspects were arrested by the Inspector-General of Police’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team (CVET) in a coordinated cyber operations on May 1 and 3, 2026 at Sogakope, Dabala, Tongu, Akatsi and Aflao in the Volta Region.
A Police brief mentioned the suspects as: Raphael Ablordeppey, 32; Anipah Jonathan, 23; Dzamesi Bright Kofi, 35; Thomas Ayoyo, 17; and Louis Segbawu, 18 years.
It said on May 4, another cyber field tracking operation also led to the arrest of additional five suspects who were Nigerians and one Ghanaian engaged in similar online fraudulent activity in Aflao.
“The five suspects are Bishop Esiri, aged 46; Wisdom James, aged 25; Ali Lucky, 23; Edwin Edos, 22; and John Kofi Darlington, 20, with suspect Danu Peter, aged 19, being the only Ghanaian among the second group.”
The Police brief said the team retrieved several exhibits, including laptop computers, mobile phones, internet routers, 120 pre-registered SIM cards and a Nigeria registered ML 350 Mercedes Benz with registration number Lagos LSR 138HR.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects used the fraudulent AI-generated contents to solicit money and sensitive personal information from unsuspecting members of the public through online platforms.
It was further established that the suspects were part of a wider network engaged in the creation and dissemination of fraudulent digital contents designed to impersonate high-profile personalities for financial gains, the brief said.
On May 6, nine out of the 11 suspects were remanded into police custody to reappear on 25th May, 2026.
Two others; Thomas Ayoyo and Louis Segbawu, have been granted bail.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter:Joyce Danso
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