BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Ghana Police Service has arrested two suspects linked to a disturbing viral video in which a young woman was seen physically assaulting a man—a clip that sparked widespread public outrage and renewed conversations about mob-style attacks and digital-age impunity.
According to police sources, the arrest forms part of intensified efforts by the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, which has recently stepped up digital surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms following a rise in social-media-triggered incidents.
The team, created to track, analyse, and respond to online crime, moved swiftly after the video went viral earlier this week, drawing condemnation from civil society groups and social media users.
The primary suspect, Esther Nana Afia Sarfowaa, popularly referred to online as the “Vandam woman” because of the aggressive and choreographed manner in which she carried out the assault, was picked up on Wednesday, 27 November, 2025, at Subriso in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency of the Ashanti Region.
She was reportedly hiding at a private residence when officers closed in on her.
A second suspect, Stephen Ofori, believed to have facilitated or encouraged the assault, was arrested the same day at Nkawie, also in the Ashanti Region.
Police believe he played a direct role in the incident captured in the viral footage and may have aided the circulation of the video online.
The arrests follow preliminary investigations that identified at least five individuals connected to the incident.
While Sarfowaa and Ofori are currently in custody assisting investigators, police say three additional suspects remain at large.
A coordinated manhunt is underway, with reinforcement from local intelligence units.
This latest operation adds to a growing list of cases where the Police Cyber Team has cracked down on perpetrators whose actions are filmed and shared on social media platforms—an increasingly common trend that the police say contributes to lawlessness and public fear.
In a brief statement, the Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice, assuring the public that “all persons involved in this unlawful assault will be arrested and prosecuted.”
The victim, whose identity is being protected, is receiving support while investigations continue.
The police are urging the public to volunteer credible information that may lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects as the case develops.
