Police probe alleged GH₵400,000 MoMo withdrawal, link funds to gold robbery case

The Ghana Police Service has provided an update on investigations into the alleged unauthorised withdrawal of GH₵400,000 from a mobile money account belonging to a Kumasi-based merchant.

According to the police, the probe,initiated on the directive of Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno and led by the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB),has uncovered that the funds in question are connected to a suspected gold robbery and fraud scheme.

Investigators traced the origin of the case to a complaint filed on December 8, 2025, by a victim who reported being lured to Ntoaso near Nsawam under the pretext of a gold transaction.

The complainant indicated he paid GH₵500,000 in cash and transferred an additional GH₵400,000 via mobile money for the purchase. However, shortly after the payment, armed men allegedly stormed the location and robbed him of the gold.

Police say tracking of the GH₵400,000 mobile money transfer led them to accounts linked to Derrick Okyere Dapaah, also known as “Pablo,” who is identified as a mobile money merchant.

Further investigations revealed that the funds were moved across multiple accounts before being withdrawn by another suspect, who reportedly acted on instructions from an individual identified as Alhaji Ibrahim.

Authorities subsequently secured court orders to freeze the mobile money accounts involved, reverse the transaction, and retrieve the funds as evidence pending the outcome of the case.

Four suspects,William Nene Sakitey Osabotey, a goldsmith and owner of the premises where the transaction occurred, along with Abudu Dauda, Prince Ofori, and Derrick Okyere Dapaah,have been arrested and charged. They have since been granted bail and are expected to reappear in court on April 29, 2026.

Police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend two additional suspects, identified as Alex and Alhaji Ibrahim, who remain at large.

The case highlights ongoing concerns around fraudulent gold transactions and the misuse of mobile money platforms in criminal activities, with authorities urging the public to exercise caution when engaging in high-value deals.