By Issah Olegor
The Ghana Police Service has uncovered a suspected criminal network behind an alleged unauthorised withdrawal of GH₵400,000 from a mobile money account in Kumasi, linking the transaction to a wider gold robbery and fraud scheme that dates back to late 2025.
The development follows a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, which tasked the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the transaction involving a mobile money merchant, Derrick Okyere Dapaah, popularly known as “Pablo.”
Preliminary findings from the investigation have revealed that the GH₵400,000 in question was not a routine transaction but part of the proceeds from a carefully orchestrated gold scam and robbery.
The case stems from a complaint lodged with police on December 8, 2025, by Francis Ayaaba, a resident of Ejisu, who reported being lured into a fraudulent gold deal.
According to the complainant, he was invited to a location at Ntoaso near Nsawam under the pretext of purchasing gold.
Upon arrival, he reportedly paid GH₵500,000 in cash and transferred an additional GH₵400,000 via mobile money as payment for the commodity.
However, shortly after completing the transaction, armed men allegedly stormed the premises and robbed him of the gold, turning what appeared to be a legitimate business deal into a coordinated criminal operation.
Investigators subsequently traced the GH₵400,000 mobile money transfer to accounts linked to Derrick Okyere Dapaah.
Further scrutiny revealed that the funds were moved across two additional mobile money accounts also associated with him, raising suspicion about his involvement in the movement of the money.
Police further established that the funds were eventually withdrawn by a suspect identified as Abudu Dauda, who reportedly used a Ghana Card bearing the name Isagali Promise to carry out the transaction.
During interrogation, Dauda told investigators that he acted on the instructions of an individual identified as Alhaji Ibrahim, believed to be a key figure in the network.
In response to the findings, police secured court orders to freeze all mobile money accounts connected to the transaction, reverse the GH₵400,000 transfer, and retrieve the funds as evidence to support ongoing investigations.
The probe has since led to the arrest of several suspects, including Abudu Dauda, Prince Ofori, and William Nene Sakitey Osabutey, a goldsmith and owner of the premises where the transaction took place.
Derrick Okyere Dapaah himself was also arrested and charged with abetment of crime for his alleged role in facilitating the movement of the funds.
All four accused persons have been arraigned before the court and granted bail. They are expected to reappear on April 29, 2026, as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, police have intensified efforts to apprehend two additional suspects identified as Alex and Alhaji Ibrahim, who are currently on the run and believed to be central to the execution of the scheme.
Authorities say they remain committed to pursuing all individuals involved and dismantling the network behind the crime.
