By Daniel Bampoe
A coordinated intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service has dismantled a sophisticated cyber fraud syndicate responsible for circulating fake electronic traffic violation notices to unsuspecting members of the public, leading to the arrest of seven key suspects across multiple locations in the Greater Accra and Central Regions.
The breakthrough was announced at a press briefing held at the Emergency Command Centre of the National Police Headquarters, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, where police detailed how the criminal network exploited public trust in state institutions to defraud victims through fraudulent digital messages.
Origins of the Scam
About a week before the arrests, police intelligence units detected the circulation of electronic “traffic violation notices” sent to members of the public.
The messages falsely claimed to originate from the Ghana Police Service and accused recipients of committing traffic offences.
Victims were directed to click embedded links to pay supposed fines online.
Following public concern and complaints, police intelligence and cybercrime teams were immediately activated to investigate the source of the messages.
At the same time, the Police Service issued a public notice warning citizens that the messages were fake, fraudulent, and had no connection to the Police Service, while assuring the public that efforts were underway to track down the perpetrators.
Financial Trail And First Arrests
Investigations revealed that funds paid by victims were being funneled through multiple mobile money numbers in a layered structure designed to conceal the money trail.
The proceeds were eventually consolidated through a mobile money vendor identified as Martha Quarshie, based in Ada.
Acting on this intelligence, a police team moved to Ada on February 23, 2026, where Martha Quarshie was arrested alongside Peter Ofori McCarthy and Alfred Kofi Totimeh.
During interrogation, Quarshie disclosed that a man named Prosper Otumfour, based in Winneba, regularly sent her funds and instructed her on how to redistribute them through various mobile money numbers and a bank account.
This revelation placed Otumfour at the center of the operation.
Winneba Operation And Key Breakthrough
On February 24, 2026, police teams tracked Prosper Otumfour to Winneba and arrested him.
A search of his room led to the recovery of GH₵4,188 in cash, multiple SIM cards, mobile phones, and laptops believed to be used in the fraud operation.
He was subsequently transferred to the CID Headquarters for further questioning.
Further intelligence led investigators back to Ada on February 25, 2026, where Martha Quarshie assisted police in identifying the individual who introduced her to Otumfour.
This resulted in the arrest of Robert Akplehe, 33, from whose room police retrieved a Dell laptop, two hard drives, and a Samsung Galaxy A22 phone. Another suspect, Christian Akplehe, 32, also a mobile money vendor, was arrested the same day.
A search of his premises uncovered multiple mobile phones, SIM cards from different networks, bank and e-payment cards, a Ghanaian passport, a Ghana Card in another person’s name, and cash totaling GH₵6,790.
Later that day, Michael Edem Amemornu, 33, arrived at the CID Headquarters to visit Prosper Otumfour.
Investigators identified him as part of the network and as a recipient of fraud proceeds through Telecel Cash transactions from Martha Quarshie. He was immediately arrested and placed in custody.
Structure of the Criminal Network
Police investigations uncovered a well-organized digital fraud structure. Prosper Otumfour allegedly registered multiple mobile money SIM cards in the names of family members and associates, including some of the arrested suspects, but kept physical control of all the SIM cards.
These numbers were used to receive payments from victims.
Funds collected were then transferred to Martha Quarshie, who redistributed the money to various numbers and accounts based on instructions from Otumfour.
This multi-layered system was deliberately designed to hide transaction trails and frustrate detection by law enforcement.
Ongoing Investigations And Court Action
All seven suspects — Martha Quarshie, Peter Ofori McCarthy, Alfred Kofi Totimeh, Prosper Otumfour, Robert Akplehe, Christian Akplehe, and Michael Edem Amemornu — are currently in police custody assisting investigations and are expected to be arraigned before the court.
Police say investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest additional members of the syndicate who may still be at large.
Broader Digital Enforcement Reforms
Beyond the arrests, the Police Service announced that it is working with key state institutions, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Authority, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Insurance Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, to engage Parliament on amendments to road traffic regulations.
These reforms are aimed at enabling the rollout of a national automated traffic law enforcement system known as Traffitech-GH, which will introduce a formal, secure, and legally backed digital traffic enforcement framework to prevent fraud and impersonation.
