In Kasoa, a suburb of Accra, Ghana, the Central East Command of the Ghana Police Service has arrested two individuals, Mahamudu Yahaya, a 40-year-old businessman, and Osman Abdul Razak, a 21-year-old student, on charges of spreading false news and deceiving public officers. The arrests stem from separate incidents where both men claimed their genitals had vanished, causing public alarm.
Yahaya and Razak were brought before the Awutu Breku District Court, where Yahaya pleaded guilty to the charges. The court, presided over by Annir Adobor, deferred his sentence to April 14, 2024. Razak, on the other hand, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties, with a court reappearance set for May 24, 2024.
The incidents involved the accused making alarming claims in public that their genitals had disappeared following physical contact with others. In Yahaya's case, he accused two scrap dealers of causing his manhood to shrink after sharing a tricycle ride. After lodging a complaint at the Kasoa Police Station, a medical examination at the Mother and Child Hospital found no evidence to support his claim, as confirmed by Dr. G.K Aidoo.
Razak's scenario unfolded similarly, where he accused a scrap dealer of causing his penis to disappear after a brief encounter at a phone shop. This claim led to a public commotion and subsequent police report. A medical examination at the Kasoa Polyclinic by Dr. Lovia Dwomoh and her team found Razak's claims to be baseless, declaring his genitalia “stable, intact, and healthy.”
These incidents have highlighted ongoing issues in some communities where superstitions lead to false accusations and sometimes violent confrontations. The Ghana Police Service has been dealing with several such allegations, which not only cause panic but also endanger innocent individuals. These arrests serve as a stern reminder of the legal consequences of spreading false news, especially those that can incite public disorder and mistrust within communities.